- Russia's Anna Shcherbakova said she felt "emptiness" after winning gold in the women's free skate.
- The event was overshadowed by the doping controversy surrounding Kamila Valieva.
Olympic
"I was feeling a lot of pleasure because I happened to be in the right time and the right place and did the right things — that's the important thing," Shcherbakova said at a post-event press conference, according to a translation from The New York Times. "On the other hand, I feel this emptiness inside."
Valieva — who was allowed to compete in the singles event despite failing a drug test last month — fell twice in her free skate, crushing her hopes of earning a medal after being the leading skater heading into Thursday's event.
She ultimately placed fourth in the event.
The controversy over Valieva's continued eligibility at the Olympics had created a firestorm in Beijing. The IOC ruled that if Valieva medaled in the free skate, there would not be a medal ceremony, which some in the figure skating world called unfair to other competitors.
When Valieva took the ice in the final, with her ROC teammates Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova sitting in first and second place, respectively, the prospect of three Russian skaters making the podium, then not receiving their medals, hung in the balance.
However, Valieva went through an atypical, mistake-plagued routine that seemingly took her out of the running for a medal.
When Valieva finished her routine, she waved her hand dismissively, walked off the ice, and immediately began crying as her coach, Eteri Tutberidze, peppered her with questions about why she seemingly gave up on her routine.
Cameras later caught Shcherbakova sitting by herself, holding teddy bears the medal-winners were given in place of medals.
Former US Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon called the scene a "shit show."
—Adam Rippon (@AdamRippon) February 17, 2022