U.S. figure skaters finally receive gold medals in Paris two years after Olympics scandal

The U.S. figure skating team from the 2022 Winter Olympics have finally received receive their gold medals, two years after their performance in Beijing.

The American athletes have been awarded their prize for their efforts in China at a podium celebration at Champions Park during the summer Games in Paris.

Stars Nathan Chen, Vincent Zhou, Karen Chen, Alexa Knierim, Brandon Frazier, Madison Chock, Evan Bates, Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue were originally awarded the silver medal in the team event. However, they were due the gold following an investigation that revealed Russian athlete Kamila Valieva had tested positive for a banned substance.

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Valieva, who was just 15-years-old at the time, became embroiled in a doping scandal. She claimed she had mistakenly taken her grandfather's medication, leading to the postponement of the medal ceremony for the team event.

After more than two years, the issue has been resolved, with the US team set to receive their gold medals as the controversy draws to a close. Prior to this, in February last year, the American team expressed their deep frustration over the lack of a final decision in the Team Event.

"They have long deserved the recognition that has been withheld due to the ongoing process," they continued in a pointed statement. "U.S. Figure Skating calls for a fair and appropriate ruling to rightfully award medals to all clean sport athletes affected by this situation."

A U.S. figure skating team has now confirmed: "The International Skating Union announced its reorder of the medals, based on the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision to ban Valieva, then 15, for four years dating back to Dec. 25, 2021. The reorder, affected by the loss of Valieva's points in the team event, is now: Gold, United States; Silver, Japan; Bronze, ROC, which dropped from first to third."

Taking to Instagram, they said: "Over the past 212 years, these nine athletes have conducted themselves with dignity and humility in their fight for clean sport and a level playing field across all Olympic sports. We are elated that Evan Bates, Karen Chen, Nathan Chen, Madison Chock, Zachary Donohue, Brandon Frazier, Madison Hubbell, Alexa Knierim and Vincent Zhou will rightfully be celebrated as gold medalists in Paris, receiving the Olympic moment they were denied at Beijing 2022."

They added: "In addition to being proud of these athletes, U.S. Figure Skating would like to thank the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee for its steadfast support in this matter and the International Olympic Committee for its commitment to making this ceremony a reality."

US figure skating stars Alexa Knierim, Brandon Frazier, and Vincent Zhou have made an impassioned plea on "Today" for a definitive ruling. Zhou expressed his dismay, stating: "It felt like a stain on the history of figure skating and the Olympics."

The athlete continued with strong criticism: "It reflects poorly on the integrity of sport in the Olympics in general. We aren't being told much. There's been a shocking lack of transparency and communication, not just to the public, but to the athletes themselves."