What seemed like a fairytale ending for Canada’s Max Parrot, who took gold in the men’s snowboarding slopestyle at the Beijing Olympics, has sparked controversy due to a judging error. Parrot, who triumphed over cancer after completing chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma in 2019, secured the top spot, with China’s Su Yiming taking silver and fellow Canadian Mark McMorris earning bronze. However, new video footage has raised questions about the accuracy of Parrot’s score.
Video Review Sparks Outcry Over Missed Trick Detail
Fans noticed that during Parrot’s winning run, he appeared to grab his knee instead of his board during a critical trick, a mistake that typically results in lower scores. This oversight fueled frustration among supporters of Su and McMorris, who took to social media to criticize the judges for missing this detail. McMorris commented that in other competitions, a mistake like this would have resulted in a much lower score, saying, “If they had seen it, that run would have scored around a 75-80.”
Parrot’s team did not respond to media inquiries, while comments on McMorris’ social media mixed congratulations with disappointment, with many claiming he was “robbed” by the judging error.
Judges Admit to Missed Error Due to Limited Camera Angles
Iztok Sumatic, the head snowboarding judge at the Beijing Olympics, acknowledged in an interview with Whitelines magazine that the error was indeed missed. Sumatic explained that the camera angles available to the judges made it difficult to spot the missed board grab, and by the time the footage was reviewed in slow motion, the final scores were already in place.
The incident has led to widespread discussion on social media, with some Chinese users on Weibo questioning why the Olympics did not correct the result after acknowledging the mistake. Su’s coach, Yasuhiro Sato, urged fans to avoid attacking the judges and emphasized that both he and Su respect the competition’s outcome.
Broader Calls for Improved Judging Standards
Japan’s Ayumu Hirano, who won gold in the men’s halfpipe, added to the criticism of the snowboarding judging process. In a press conference following his event, Hirano urged for more accurate judging standards, noting his own experience of receiving a surprisingly low score after performing a highly challenging triple cork during his second run. “We need a stronger system to assess tricks fairly. Athletes risk their safety, giving everything they have, so fair judging is crucial,” Hirano said.
Snowboarding Community Frustrated by Controversy
Mark McMorris expressed his mixed emotions, voicing happiness for Parrot’s success but disappointment over the judging lapse. He remarked that this kind of controversy detracts from the integrity of their sport, especially on an Olympic stage. Despite requests, the International Ski Federation has not commented on the matter.
The issue underscores a growing call within the snowboarding community for more robust judging protocols, including the possibility of enhanced camera setups to ensure fair assessments in high-stakes competitions like the Olympics.
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