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SALT LAKE CITY -- A decade after the judging scandal at the Utah Olympics, Canadian gold metalists Jamie Sale and David Pelletier remember the support of Americans they received.
"I've never actually felt that in my entire life where I felt like the whole crowd was behind us, or behind me, personally," Sale said.
Fans had fallen in love with the Canadians even before they took the ice for their long program, and when they finished, the crowd leaped to its feet cheering. Everyone felt that Sale and Pelletier had won.
"We always say this was our Olympic moment where every sacrifice, every dollar our parents put into it, every party we missed, every sleepless night, every 5 o'clock in the morning wake-up call, was worth it," Pelletier said.
By one vote the duo placed second. What followed was an unprecedented Olympic scandal, and the French judge admitted she was pressured to vote for the Russians.
Sale and Pelletier appeared at press conferences, handling themselves with dignity and a sense of humor. Six days later came an IOC decision to make them co-gold medalists with the Russians. The ceremony that followed, was not, they say, what it appeared to be.
"The Russians gracefully showed up but they weren't obviously pleased," Sale said. "This is kind of like, we're just getting this gold medal, given to us and it's for television and we're putting everyone in an uncomfortable position here."
What happened to them changed sports judging and scoring. The two became media darlings and NBC commentators. They married and divorced but raise their 4- and 1/2-year-old son, Jesse, together. They remain skating partners and best friends who still feel that Olympic support.
"We feel very blessed and privileged that we were able to get that from the American audience, so thank you," Sale said.
Sale and Pelletier gave us magical, unforgettable Olympic moments. They still do 40 shows a year and hope to return to Olympic commentating.
