The Beijing Olympics 2022 was a highly anticipated event, filled with exhilarating and unforgettable moments. The figure skating arena was no exception, as audiences cheered passionately for their favorite teams during the team event. After intense competition, Russia emerged as the victors, with the USA securing second place and Japan, third.

The athletes stood on the podium, ready to receive the medals they had worked so hard to earn. However, their joy quickly turned to confusion and disbelief when officials informed them that the medal ceremony would not take place. Now more than a year after this incident athletes still have not received their medals and members of Team USA appeared on a TV show to talk about the incident briefly.

The Long Wait and the Confessions

More than 500 days have passed since the event, and yet Team USA, alongside Team Japan, still awaits the rightful recognition of their accomplishments. The members of the US team, including Alexa Knierim, Brandon Frazier, and Vincent Zhou, appeared on the Today Show to discuss their win and the setback they encountered.

When asked about the canceled medal ceremony by Hoda Kotb,  Knierim expressed her initial disbelief, stating, “I thought it was a joke because it was absurd.” Frazier shared his mixed emotions, describing the situation as a dream that felt both incredible and unreal. Vincent voiced his disappointment, describing the absence of a medal ceremony as a stain on the history of figure skating.

Alexa further emphasized the importance of fair play, saying, “We deserve recognition for competing fairly and cleanly. It feels like we are being punished for doing things the right way.” All this happened because one of the members of Team ROC (Russian Olympic Committee) tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug.

The incident that left the stars disappointed

It was a devastating blow for all the figure skaters. Everything they had trained for, sacrificed for, and dreamt of was suddenly taken away. The reason behind this abrupt cancellation was a shocking revelation that one of the members of the Russian team, Kamila Valieva, had tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug trimetazidine, two months prior to the competition.

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As a result, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to halt the ceremony pending further investigation. While the Russian Anti-Doping Agency had cleared Valieva of any wrongdoing, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) challenged this decision, leading to an ongoing case in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Despite the prolonged wait for their well-deserved medals, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Today Show host, Hoda Kotb, proposed a solution, suggesting a ceremony to celebrate the athletes once they finally receive their long-awaited honors. The idea was met with delight and anticipation by all three skaters, offering a beacon of light after the long and perplexing journey they have endured.

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