Blumberg & Seibert (USA) - 1984 Sarajevo, Ice Dancing, Free Dance

Sarajevo, YUGOSLAVIA - 1984 Winter Games, Ice Dancing, Free Dance - Judy Blumberg and Michael Seibert of the United States placed 4th in the Free Dance, dropping them out of the medals and into 4th Place overall. Controversy arose when the Italian judge made a huge fuss about Judy & Michael's music choice of "Scheherezade," citing that if they can dance to this music, then whose to say anyone can't dance to the Italian national anthem? The Italian judge, in the end, penalized them for improper music choice by giving them their lowest mark for Composition & Style, 5.5. The Italian judge's scores was what cost Judy & Michael the Bronze Medal. A month later at Worlds, a different Italian judge on the panel gave them a 5.9/5.8 to make up for the fiasco here.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Blumberg
• Seibert
• 1984
• figure
• skating

[MTVMANN]

I thought it was because they didn't show a change in tempo...which Torville and Dean didn't do either.

At any rate, why would this music be criticized? Skaters have used it before and after 1984

[3Axel1996]

@MTVMANN Never before for Ice Dancing.

[libralady1010]

@muscleboi4use Unfortunately the standings for 1984 were already cast in 1981 when Michael had a fall 14 seconds into their program, which allowed the over the top mediocre team of Bestimianova&Bukin to move ahead of them The has been team of Moiseeva and Minenkov edged them off the podium in 1981 along w/B&B and Torvill and Dean winning.

[Kevindl1985]

@MTVMANN The rule was they were supposed to have a change in tempo. They didn't and were penalized, Torvill and Dean however weren't. A judge was interviewd and asked why T&D weren't penalized for Bolero having the same tempo throughout and the answer was "because they're T&D" After that, the ISU banned judges from being interviewed.

[twilliger123]

Robbed during the days of Eastern European bias...should have medaled, no doubt about it.

[muscleboi4use]

@excalibur1812 I agree this couple should have got the silver and the music changes tempo for sure, but you are seriously in a minority of not very many if you think Torvill and Dean's Bolero is boring!

[gk891]

I thought Klimova & Ponomarenko's bronze medal was fine. However, I would've given this couple the silver (I also would've given them the silver at the 1983 Worlds as well). Judy and Michael were superlative skaters.

[ptownmike1]

Judy & Michael were screwed. They were penalized for using the same tempo music as Torvill & Dean. As much as I love Jayne and Chris, the judges couldn't mark Torvill & Dean down because of their popularity. Judy & Michael weren't subjected to the same rules and were treated unfairly. Very sad day in Olympic figure skating.

[excalibur1812]

Yes, Blumberg and Seibert were penalized for using CLASSICAL music...GASP!!!! That DIDN'T change tempo. Excuse me, the violin cadenza at the beginning, then the piece starts! That's a change of tempo. Plus, the piece got faster at the end. But, when Torvil and Dean skated to Bolero-which I personally thought was BORING, they TRANSCENDED the sport!!!??? Talk about a two-timing double standard. Judges are INFAMOUS for raping American skaters.

[MTVMANN]

I agree...and the Russian's Original Dance only made it that much worse. The only "Silver Lining" is that they DO already have Silver Medals from the Olympics.

[talon1812]

Not to mentions the CANADIAN judge, who gave them a 5.3 for Artistic Impression for their Carmen Paso Doble!

The judging was pre-ordained to KEEP B&S OFF the podium. The exact same thing happened this year in Vancouver to Belbin and Agosto. I knew going into the competition that they would NOT put 2 Americans teams on the podium and would screw one out of a medal. The same way B&A were screwed out of the gold in Torino. They were MUCH better than the Russians with a more difficult program!