CNN's The Point
Talking About The 2002 Olympic Pairs Controversy
Transcript by CNN

CNN Correspondent (Crowley): Now, that we heard from an outsider looking in, let's look at the controversy from the eyes of two women who have been there on the ice. Skater Linda Fratianni took the silver medal at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid. And by many accounts she out skated the East German who took the gold that year. Linda is in Sun Valley, Idaho.

And in Los Angeles, is Tara Lipinski. She is the reigning Olympic gold medalist in women's figure skating and currently is in the middle of a 61 city national tour, along with the Target "Star On Ice."

Both of you, thank you for joining us. We really appreciate it. I think this will give us a good perspective on things.

Linda, it seems to me that given your experience, this must have really sort of hit you and seemed like an echo.

Linda: It hit home. I sat in my living room and watched the pairs competition. The Canadians, to me, were incredible. Didn't make any mistakes. I did like the Russians. But it wasn't a gray area to me. It was certainly black and white. And I felt like the Canadians outskated the Russians by a long shot. And when I saw it and I saw the marks, I was devastated and I actually started crying. First thing I said is I want to write those guys a letter.

CNN Correspondent (Crowley): So, you know, we're sort of having a little fun with the puns and thin ice and all that kind of stuff. But give us a sense of how long these people have worked for this and how much it means, the difference between a gold and a silver?

Linda: Well, for myself, I worked eight hours a day. We also had the school figures involved when I was competing. It's a -- you know -- it's a lifetime. And you work up to this point. And you do, well for me -- I'll speak for me -- I skated the best I've skated in all three segments of this competition. I won the short program. After my long program, the same thing happened, I had a standing ovation. The crowd was screaming, back then they were able to throw the flowers. And I thought I had won.

And I see my coach, Frank Carroll (ph), in the background jumping up and down. And I got off the ice and went into the kiss and cry area and my marks came up, and I looked at Frank and we both knew that those marks were not good enough for the gold and it was devastating. And I think it was also devastating because I felt like I let my family down who had sacrificed so much for me, my country, I let frank down.

But I know in my heart that I did everything that I could and skated every segment of the competition to the best of my ability. And Frank and I always had a job to do when we went to competition, and I did my job. And I can look back at this competition and say I did the best that I knew how. And it isn't like I can look back and say, only if I would have landed the double axle or the triple toe loop, I would have won. I look back and I have really good memories.

Crowley: Tara, let me ask you, sometimes is doing your very best, skating perfectly, not enough? What went on here? Give us your take on it.

Tara: Well, I mean, that's a definite yes. Because I've been in that position so many times. And, you know -- but for me, I think I grew up with it more in skating. With me and Michelle, Michelle was always winning and people were always saying I was going to be second. So I always expected it. You know, at the Olympics When I heard Michelle's marks, I thought, OK, I'm going to be in second.

And I went out and tried to prove myself. But it's also a sport where there is no finish line. And it's to be judged. And I think, you know, it's hard sometimes. But if you skate your best and you feel that in your heart, that's the best you can do.

Crowley: And did you think -- tell me what the skaters talk about amongst each other, if you do talk to each other. Do you think that there's a bias of judges from the former Eastern Bloc? I mean, is some of what the "L.A. Times" reporter told us is true? That they just look for different things. What accounts for what clearly is a split along geographical lines?

Tara: Yes, I think it's more of a cultural decision with the programs and music. I remember when I was skating -- I -- now I can appreciate the classical music more. But I never wanted to skate to classical music, I wanted to skate to movie themes. And that kind of made a difference between me and Michelle, because Michelle skated to more of a classical theme than I did. So I think a lot of it is that cultural opinion.

Crowley: Linda, when you look back on your experience and then you see this last night, do there need to be changes in it or is this just the way it goes? Again, as Tara says, it's a, you know, it's a judgment.

Linda: Right. This has been going on for years. And, you know, if someone had a really clever idea on how to make this political scene, you know, black or white -- or it's

Crowley: Well, do you think it's political? Let me ask you that.

Linda: I do. I do. I can't prove that anything is going on backstage. But I do think this is, you know, there are some things that have gone on that I know of that I just -- you just shake your head and think, how can that happen? For instance, the pairs the other night. I just don't understand why they didn't win. I wish someone had an answer for me. I'm just flabbergasted by the whole scene. And this is the first time that I've actually spoke out publicly about what goes on.

Crowley: Tara, would you change anything? I mean, do you see the same -- you don't really see the bias. You see more of a cultural, that certain judges are more prone to like something more than another based on where they're from. Do you see any need for changes?

Tara: Well, I think in skating, everyone has always said it's always been political. Like I said, when I was skating, I had to accept that the judging may be like that. But I think, you know, it's always been like that. But this kind of just showed it. And I think the audience favored Jamie and David a lot more, just from the heart they put in their program. But like I said, it's been there before.

Crowley: Let me quickly ask you, Tara and then to Linda, really quickly because we are running out of time. And that is, Tara, what's the main difference between the gold and the silver, just personally?

Tara: Well, in this case, I think Jamie and David have a great shot of having a wonderful career because people loved their program. They skated their hearts out. They were beautiful and I think the only thing is, though, it's for Jamie and David. You wake up every morning wanting to that gold medal. And then you come so close and you do the best you possibly could do and you don't get it. But I don't think it'll have anything to do how the audience and fans look at Jamie and David. It's like they won the gold, also?

Crowley: Linda, are you over the difference between a silver and gold in your experience?

Linda: I am. I have had a great career, I worked with Disney on Ice for 10 years. I have a beautiful daughter, she's 11 years-old, Ally. And my life has gone on. And, you know, I learned -- it took me a while but I learned that there is more to life than a gold, silver or bronze medal at the Olympics. I think my biggest story is having my daughter.

Crowley: Linda Fratianne and Tara Lipinski, thank you both so much for joining us.

Tara: No problem.

Linda: Thank you.

Crowley: Don't slip away. The Canadians at the center of the controversy are coming up on CNN and I'll be back, too.

_____________________
© TaraRulz.com