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Jamie Sale, David Pelletier Hold Press Conference

Aired February 15, 2002 - 14:22   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: If you have been with us for the past 90 minutes, you now know that Canadian ice skating team will be awarded a co-gold medal for their performance on Monday night. Certainly, this is sport. This is the Olympics, important stuff here, but certainly not life and death. But given the events in Afghanistan and the attacks back on 9/11, it's quite refreshing to talk about just this today.

We anticipate the skaters. They're in the room now. They're going to meet with reporters. Jamie Sale and David Pelletier have entered the room. They are in Salt Lake City. And by way of NBC, they're allowing us to bring you that live signal from inside the reporter's room.

And now we have the skaters all lined up and ready to go to meet reporters. Now they know they will have gold in 2002, Salt Lake City.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would like to start by introducing our guests this afternoon. We have -- well, I don't think they need much introduction, but we have David Pelletier and Jamie Sale; the president of Skate Canada, Marilyn Chidlow; the president of the Canadian Olympics Association, Mr. Michael Chambers; (UNINTELLIGIBLE), who is our athlete advocate; the Canadian team's advocate for David and Jamie, Mr. Craig Fenich. Mrs. Laurie Nicholls (ph), choreographer. And in a few minutes, Sally Rehorick, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), will join us.

Well, to start with, I'd like to ask David and Jamie to make a few comments to start with.

DAVID PELLETIER, CANADIAN PAIRS SKATER: Hello, everybody.

Well, I will start by saying my day started -- everybody knows that since a couple of days, it's been really, really hectic. And this morning I -- I didn't really know what was going on. I had no idea it was going to be solved today. So, we are happy it's done. We feel not guilty, but a little bit sad that other athletes around the world are not getting the spotlight they deserve for the accomplishment they are doing.

We -- Canada just won a bronze medal. I think that's great. They won a gold last night. But it's obviously out of our control what's going on. We're happy that justice was done. And it doesn't take away anything from Elena and Anton. This was not something against them. It was something against the system. And we also hope that the inquiries won't stop here, but that they will keep on going. That's all I have to say.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can we have a few words from Jamie. Would you like to add to this?

JAMIE SALE, CANADIAN PAIRS SKATER: I think David said it perfectly. We're truly honored that they decided to award us the gold medal, or another gold medal. But, again, we feel a little bit shy about it, because like Dave said, the other Olympians are doing their personal best and winning medals and this is what everyone is talking about. And that's not what the Olympics is supposed to be about.

But again, we sure hope that this -- the inquiries keep going and the truth comes out. And we're very proud of everybody that's worked really hard on this for us and a part of our team and we have a lot of people to thank. I don't know even no where to begin. Our coach, choreographer, agent, lawyer, Skate Canada, IOC, COA, everybody. And most importantly, the fans and all the people across the world that have supported us from Monday and been on our side, thank you all for your tremendous support and for being there for us.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, David and Jamie.

The president of the COA to say a few words. Mr. Chambers, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

MICHAEL CHAMBERS, PRESIDENT, CANADIAN OLYMPICS ASSOCIATION: This is, of course, a great day primarily for Jamie and David. But it's also a great day for sport and, in particular, a great day for fair play and equity in sport at the Olympic Games. On behalf of the Canadian Olympic Organization, I want to congratulate the International Olympic Committee and, in particular, President Rogge and the ISU and President Cinquanta for having taken an enlightened approach to this issue.

We frankly climbed a mountain here, and lo and behold, we reached the top. I can assure you many said it couldn't be done 48 hours ago. Reflective of the leadership by example of Jamie and David, we just went on the ice surface of the Olympic Games and skated our best performance. We are so glad for Jamie and David with the results we're able to achieve for them. We celebrate their victory today, but as Jamie and David mentioned, we're also up here smiling because of a great bronze medal performance by Becky Scott on behalf of Canada earlier today. Thank you very much.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, Michael.

I'd like to ask the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of the Canadian team to say a few words.

SALLY REHORICK, CANADIAN OLYMPIC DELEGATE (through translator): This is the third time this week that I'm in this seat, and really this is the best time of the week, obviously. REHORICK: Unusual that the first statement that I want to say after I congratulate David and Jamie and their coaches, is that it's wonderful the support that you as the media have given to this cause throughout the week. It has helped immensely. We have worked behind the scenes. David and Jamie have certainly conducted themselves with a tremendous amount of class.

(through translator): I'd like to thank everyone for having helped us along with this cause. And I'd like to join Mr. Chambers to congratulate the authorities for having taken the necessary steps quickly to correct the error that was made on Monday evening, and to award a second gold medal that was well deserved. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Those who may have a problem with understanding French over English...

REHORICK: There is interpretation into English, for those who want to listen to the English interpretation of the French.

The President of Skate Canada will now say a few words.

MARILYN CHIDLOW, PRESIDENT, SKATE CANADA: I must turn it on! Firstly, I would just like to say how very proud that I am, that we are, of Jamie and David. They have conducted themselves just amazingly well, both on and off the ice. They skated a performance of a lifetime, and a gold medal has now been rewarded to them.

We certainly do want to thank the IOC, the ISU and especially the COA, for helping us to make sure that we had a speedy and immediate reply to the allegations that were filed. I do want to tell you that Skate Canada has filed our submission, and we are enheartened and encouraged that Mr. Cinquanta is saying that the investigation will be ongoing.

Thank you, everyone, around the world -- all of the skating fans that support our sport. And we certainly look forward to the remaining of the week, with all of the Canadian athletes, and all of the athletes from around the world. So, wonderful celebration is about to continue. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (speaking in French). Now, before we move to questions, there are microphones in the room, to state your media and then indicate who would you like to ask your question to.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please introduce yourselves when you take the microphone and tell us who your question is addressed to.

QUESTION (through translator): My question is for David Pelletier, from TVA in Montreal. I have two questions for you, David. I know that you didn't want to use the word "robbed" for Monday's results, but it does seem that justice has now been rendered. And in your first press conference, this week you said that, "I don't want the medal, even if it's given to me." But don't you think that it has now been recognized that your performance was superior, due to the fact that they've given you the gold medal? PELLETIER (through translator): Well, I don't know if you can really talk about robbery, because to rob something, you have to have possessed something in the first place. So, I don't think I was robbed. When I said I didn't want the medal, it was because I had accepted the results.

I don't think that we are bad losers. And I think the best thing is to accept the results, as they are given. It does seem that there was some collusion. We didn't have any idea at the time when I said that. But in the hours that followed, we did hear the rumors, and so now I'm extremely proud to accept the medal on behalf of all those who defended our cause, and also on behalf of all those who have suffered from this.

QUESTION (through translator): Christine Santiere (ph), Societe Radio Canada. Mr. Pelletier, were you surprised by the extent of this story, that the waves that it created in Canada and the U.S. and throughout the world? And it was said earlier that perhaps the ISU needs a clean sweep. Do you think that it really does?

PELLETIER (through translator): Well, I didn't say that it needed a clean sweep. I said that if we needed to do some cleaning up, perhaps we should continue doing it. I think that there were people involved in this, but I don't think they should be massacred by the journalists. I don't know what happened. I don't know what happened in the inquiry. All I know is the results we've got today, and I'm just pleased with that.

QUESTION (through translator): When you talked about the waves that this had created throughout the world...

PELLETIER (through translator): Well, it's really quite amazing, because we're in the thick of things, we're really in the eye of the storm. We were in the Olympic Village. I haven't read the newspapers over the last two weeks, so I can't say I really had no idea, but I did have a small idea of what was happening. I was a little surprised, that I, David Pelletier, was involved. Well, that was a bit surprising.

QUESTION: David, Jamie, Arnie Burko (ph) with ESPN. Can you talk about that fact that you have to share the gold medal with the Russians, and that you won a gold medal but not the gold medal in this event?

PELLETIER: We had a gold medal performance. That's the best way I can answer your question. And I own a gold medal. That doesn't take anything away from Elena and Anton. They also had a great skate, and their own gold medal performance.

SALE: I was just going to say, I think everybody's performance speaks for itself. And they had their best skate that night and we had our best skate, and now we're being rewarded the gold also, so -- that's the only comment we have.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: CTV at the back of the room, here. QUESTION: Yes. Rosemarie Thompson, from CTV. I'm wondering where the two of you were this morning, and who told you and what was your reaction?

PELLETIER: Well, we had a few things planned for the day, obviously not this. I was actually willing -- the way I was starting to feel about the entire thing -- to go down the skeleton right without a helmet. Now I would put the helmet on. So, I got up, and our lawyer called us, and he said, "we need to meet right away, there's a press conference at 11:00. We had no idea what was going on.

I mean, I have seen in the past, a mistake that was done by a judge in synchronized swimming that should have been fixed in five minutes, that took a year. So, I mean, I was kind of expecting this to go on and on and on. And when we when Craig said it might be fixed today, I was quite surprised. So we went to meet with him with his -- in front of the television.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You, sir, in the back, please.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) your reaction? What did you think?

SALE: Oh, it's a big shock. I mean, obviously, like Dave said, we're not being -- we don't have closed ears on everything. We're not involved in anything, but we're trying to stay as far away from it as possible, and trying to enjoy the Olympics as much as we can. We are athletes.

And -- like Dave said, Craig just said, "I think you guys have to come and see this," we were at a press conference and something might happen here big. So we sat down, and as soon as we saw what was going, on it was -- it was amazing. It was unbelievable. Really big surprise for us.

QUESTION: Mike Emmanuel, Fox News. Jamie and David, what do you think should be done to keep this from happening to skaters in the future? To keep them from suffering from corruption, in your sport?

SALE: Oh, boy.

PELLETIER: We don't really know really what happened. I've watched a press conference, I watched Mr. Cinquanta say that -- and Mr. Rogge, the president of the IOC, say that we had a gold medal. After that I kind of stopped listening, so...

(LAUGHTER)

PELLETIER: And, I will now direct this question to my lawyer.

(LAUGHTER)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We talked about this. Obviously, all hell broke out in the room as soon as the announcement was actually made. And one of the things that I noticed was that there were about four different people talking in different languages on cell phones to people. Jamie was trying to get ahold of her coach. I'm not sure who David was talking to, but he was speaking French, so I'm assuming it was his mom or his dad.

The one thing I want to say about this -- and we knew this question, obviously, was coming -- is that what our mission statement is something that David said to me, I think it was Tuesday morning. He said to me, "I don't have to have the gold medal, but I want the truth to come out." And I think everybody still feels that way.

They love their sport. They spent most of their lives participating in this sport. And they want this to be the catalyst that causes changes in this sport, so that this can never happen again to anyone. To that end, we will participate, assist, nudge, do whatever we need to do to make sure that this is the beginning and not the end, and that the truth does come out.

I don't, you know, I would like to think that this can't all be laid on one scapegoat French judge, and that serious reforms will come about as a result of this. And if they do, I think that Jamie and David will feel that they've accomplished more than they ever thought they would be able to accomplish here in Salt Lake City, and I think it will be for good of the sport they love.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you. Here to the side, please. Can you stand, please?

QUESTION: Yes, hi, Susan Vanella (ph) from the Cleveland "Plain Dealer." I wonder, with everything that's happened, and the fact that you have to share the gold medal, does that take away from the accomplishment at all?

SALE: Doesn't take away from our accomplishment one bit. We came here to do two great performances, personal best, to enjoy it. And we did that. And I -- we were saying that half an hour after we skated, in our press conference, that with a silver -- I mean, we won the silver but we had a gold medal performance. And that is going to stick with us forever and we're never going to forget it, and I don't think anybody will. You can never take a performance away from an athlete. It's forever.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Steve Buffree (ph), please stand.

QUESTION: I am standing.

(LAUGHTER)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's OK. Good things come in small packages.

QUESTION: Yeah, thanks. You're not so bad yourself.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thanks.

QUESTION: Recover my composure, here. You guys look like you had a lot of fun this week. I'm wondering, still, how much this weighed on you when you were doing sort of the rounds, and do you think there will ever be some resentment in the fact that you guys weren't able to live the moment, you know, like the sort of whole emotional thing knowing that you won, that night with the crowd and everything else?

SALE: Well, it's certainly not something we -- we didn't come into this Olympics to have this happen. Definitely not what we expected, and it is very overwhelming for us. And we are tired, we are exhausted. And constantly having people come up to us and want to talk to us about it. But we have nothing to say.

I mean, we went out and we did our job here, and that's all we could do. But, as far as resentment, I don't think so, because we're not going to let anybody ruin our Olympic experience. We still want to go and cheer on the rest of our team, and we're here to be a part of that. We're not here to resolve issues that went on in our event.

QUESTION: Mike Butow (ph), Bloomberg news. Question for Jamie or David. Based on what has happened today, obviously your skating careers after the Olympics and your skating careers after being amateurs, moving on to the professional circuit, is going to change. You seem uncomfortable accepting the gold, to a certain degree. Are you prepared for what is going happen to you after the Games?

PELLETIER: I'm not at all uncomfortable accepting the gold.

(LAUGHTER)

SALE: Me, neither.

PELLETIER: And whatever is going to change, it's -- I wish I had a crystal ball. But I don't, and -- we'll worry about things when they come up to us. It's...

SALE: One thing at a time.

PELLETIER: One thing at a time.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Here in the back.

QUESTION: Yes, David Philip Hearst (ph) of the "Chicago Tribune." You said right immediately after, "I don't want to rain on anybody's parade," which was quite fair play. And can you have some feeling for what Anton and Elena must have been going through themselves, the last three or four days, and do you have any feeling for what you might say to them, either at this award ceremony that apparently will take place during the women's final, or whenever you might see Anton and Elena next?

PELLETIER: I feel really bad for what happened to them. But in the same time -- you know, it's not my fault. It's the way it is now. And, I mean, there's nothing I can say to them, obviously, that is going make them feel better. First of all, I have to know what they feel about it. I don't feel like a criminal. But I do hope, you know, that they're taking it well.

The Olympic Games are a celebration of humanity, celebration of human health. And we're all healthy, we all did our best. And I think it's now our time to walk the talk, and the Olympics is about performance. And we were happy with our performance, and I hope they are happy with their performance.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In front, please.

QUESTION: Kevin Barn (ph), "Rocky Mountain News." I'm wondering if you've been wearing your silver medals, what you think of them, do you have to give them back when you're presented the gold, that sort of thing?

SALE: They're too heavy to wear. We're not sure what's going to happen. Obviously, we just found out about this half an hour ago. So I'm sure someone will be telling us what's going on.

PELLETIER: And we do hope we get the bronze too, so we can get the entire collection in our living room.

(LAUGHTER)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, we need the microphone people to move around, please. Next question. Here in the back, please.

QUESTION: David Skilly (ph), WDIV in Detroit. I think we were all a little surprised that the gold medal wouldn't be awarded to you immediately. Do either of you care how or when this is all awarded to you?

PELLETIER: It's a very good question. I hope they can raise a flag. I would like that, for the entire Canadian delegation. But I don't have control on that. And we'll take it, because I know they'll give it to us the best way they think it is for everybody. And we'll take it the way they're going to give it to us.

QUESTION: David, Jamie, in a kind of twisted say, did you kind of develop a sentimental attachment to that silver medal, in terms of for the past four days, you've been pretty much the No. 1 story in -- not just the entire world of sport, but the entire world?

SALE: David's mom said the best thing to me after we finished. She came to our room and she said, "You know what? That silver medal is platinum." And I think that was the best thing that anyone ever said to me, because I had millions of people come up to me on the streets, "you were robbed, you were robbed, you should have won." And we're smiling, saying thank you, we appreciate your support. But, I think that was the best thing that anyone ever said, that that was a platinum medal. Because that's ultimately the best, right?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In the front, please.

QUESTION: Christie Watsford (ph), from the "National Post." Mike, I'd like to ask you, what happens now to the court of arbitration thing? Is that moot? Does that go ahead?

CHAMBERS: Court of arbitration is moot, has been withdrawn and it will not be proceeded with, since the result sought to achieve was the result that was announced this morning.

QUESTION: Wouldn't, on some level, if I may follow up, you feel more comfortable having an independent -- a body independent of the ISU having a look at this whole thing?

CHAMBERS: We're maintaining our recommendation to the ISU to that effect, but now that's something for the ISU to decide. We in Olympic Games people.

QUESTION: Hi, Liz (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Westwood Radio. Congratulations, fellows. Just wanted to ask a question. Do you think the magnitude of this is actually going to change our judging system in the sport? Is it going to take a long time, or can we see the progression of the changing happening soon?

It could either be athletes or Ms. Chidlow.

CHIDLOW: Thank you very, very much, Jamie and David. I'm pleased to be able to reply to that question, Liz, and it's great to have you here as well. Thank you. I do want to let everyone know that I am encouraged by the news that I have, that the ISU congress will certainly address a new judging system. And I have been given that information firsthand.

QUESTION: Jamie and David, Dan Barnes from (UNINTELLIGIBLE). When Simon Whitfield won his gold in Sydney, he said he suddenly had a passport to the rest of the Games, that he found himself at every event he ever wanted to be. Do you think in many ways, the silver was a larger passport than the gold would have been, given the circumstances?

Yeah, this is -- it's the situation that created that. Obviously, the silver medal story became the biggest silver medal story of INS -- and without pretension, obviously -- but became bigger than any silver medal. Maybe not on the right away. But that's the way it is now. And this is the situation right now. I don't know what to say about that, more.

SALE: I was just going to say we're dealing with it the best we can.

QUESTION: This is Amy Shipley from "The Washington Post." I guess that is a question for Mr. Chambers. Were you told that you your skaters would receive this medal, on the condition that you dropped the arbitration request?

CHAMBERS: No, we weren't.

QUESTION: Why not continue that arbitration, in the interest of improving the sport?

CHAMBERS: Because that arbitration was specifically focused on getting a gold medal for Jamie and David. It was arbitration to affect the result of the Games. The broader inquiry is something that will have to take place after the Games, in the CAS proceedings that would have nothing to do with that. HEMMER: We're going to leave this event here in Salt Lake. We won't be too far away from it, though. We want to move up to Edmonton, and bring in Patti Siegel. Patti Siegel is the mother of Jamie Sale. Can you hear me OK?

PATTI SIEGEL, JAMIE SALE'S MOTHER: Great.

HEMMER: Your reaction, based on what you're hearing out of Salt Lake? Your daughter and her partner there said a short time ago that they woke up this morning and had no idea that the decision that was announced would indeed turn up gold. Your reaction to that?

SIEGEL: I'm sure that they certainly did not expect this. None of us did, because this is very unprecedented. And I know that Jamie and David were happy that they stated the performance of their lives, and they were quite prepared to accept that as the result and go home, knowing in their hearts, that they had their Olympic dream.

HEMMER: David said justice was done in this case. Do you see it the same way?

SIEGEL: I don't think I'm in a position to see it that way, or to see anything. I'm the mom, I'm not the athlete. And so -- I would -- I just am really happy for Jamie and David, that they feel good about what they did and they've now been recognized for it.

HEMMER: Listen, absolute congratulations to you, as well. I know you must be an absolutely proud mother at this point. But one thing Jamie said, she said one time, "we have the gold medal," and then she stopped and corrected herself, "or, another gold medal."

SIEGEL: Yeah, yes, I heard that.

HEMMER: I'm wondering, is some of this watered down? How do you address that, Ms. Siegel?

SIEGEL: Well, it certainly isn't the same as getting the gold outright. Getting it the night of the performance, after a great skate, would have been quite different. So -- yeah, it's not quite the same as it would have been if it had been presented Monday to them, solely.

HEMMER: Give us a perspective of what Canadians are feeling right now. I mean, this was really something that really swept all across your country. And I know Jamie's father is a mayor in a town up there somewhere, and the flags were lowered to half-staff this past week. And just curious to know the reaction that you've been picking up on.

SIEGEL: Well, I know there have been all kinds of emotions, some outrage, some severe disappointment and heartbreak. And so I'm sure everybody is reacting in their own way. Probably a lot, of "yes, go Canada," and, "that's great," and I'm sure there are some people quietly crying, and sharing the moment with special ones.

I can only say that I've been really touched and overwhelmed, actually, by the outpouring of support for Jamie and David, from not only Canada -- and especially the members and the people here at the club where I work every day -- I have been surrounded by wonderful, wonderful members who have just been so supportive and kind -- but also to the wonderful American people, including my host family in Salt Lake City, the Whipels (ph). If you're watching, thank you so much for everything you did to make my stay great.

And, boy they went through the ride with me, so it was a real Canadian-USA connection. And in fact the night of the long, I had a banner that they made in their house that said, "the love story continues. Canada and USA, Sale and Pelletier." So this was really fitting.

HEMMER: Very nice. Listen, take us back to Monday night. Here is what I want you to do for us.

SIEGEL: I'm sorry can you repeat that.

HEMMER: Take us back to Monday night. Here is what I'm looking for in this question. How did you react when you were watching your daughter and David skate? And then juxtapose that with your reaction once you found out they finished second.

SIEGEL: I was definitely invested in that performance. I watched them skate several times live and on television, and every time, you know, as a mom, I watch the elements, of course.

(VIDEO GAP)

HEMMER: Oh, that's a shame, we lost her. Patti Siegel, the mother of Jamie Sale, talking about what's been a really long five days for her. Back to Salt Lake now. They're still talking there. Jamie Sale and David Pelletier there again. They have been awarded a co-gold medal for their performance Monday night. The French judge involved here has been suspended.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

QUESTION: I listened to a statement of Elizabeth Manley this morning, saying in '88 Olympic Games, actually, it would be also -- would have been very good to have a close gold medal to Katarina Witt. So these questions now, do you have the feeling you would like to give the gold medal to the last world championships in Vancouver, also to Berezhnaya/Sikharulidz -- not only winning you, because it was a very close result, too?

PELLETIER: Well, it was not a close result. It was a six judge in favor of us, I think, and three favor of the Russians. I don't think the situation is the same at all. I'm sorry to tell you that today, but the situation is not the same. There was -- no judge has been forced to vote for this or for that. And it's not the same situation.

I think everybody would agreed that -- and you know what? I'm just going to answer that, that you don't fix the future by talking about the past. And this is not even the same situation. I'm sorry. I'd like to take a minute with that, too.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can I ask where the question is coming from?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just a second. There was no allegation -- there was no allegation of -- that any judge was corrupted in any way at the world championships. There never has been that allegation, and so far as I know, no one thinks that that occurred. So not only was it 6-3, I mean, it would be unbelievable to me if somebody attempted to taint their world championship by what happened here today. I mean, that's preposterous.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We've got three minutes left, so I'd like to take two questions. I just take two seconds to give you an e-mail address, if you want to write it down for any future questions. Coacomm@qwest.net, to go to this e-mail address. Next question, here from the side.

QUESTION: David, down here in the front, Dave. We're sitting here in North America, where all the opinion has been clearly that everyone believes you won, that you were robbed. There is a whole other part of the world out there, and what we're getting back from Russia, eastern Europe, other parts of the world, is that perhaps this was not as clear-cut as all that. Do you have some empathy for the fact that there is a difference of opinion here, and that, you know, this was maybe too close to call in some ways?

PELLETIER: You can argue all your life about both style of skating. You can argue all your life about what happened that night. But you cannot argue against the fact that there was something going on with the judges. And opinions are not good, opinions are not wrong, they're only opinions, and they're worth what they're worth.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Last question here.

QUESTION: David and Jamie, you said that the media attention and the fact of all the attention being shifted to this story, has detracted from the other athletes. Is there something you can do about that, now that this situation has been resolved? By sort of retreating from the media requests that you've been getting?

PELLETIER: Well, when all of you guys leave the room, go see another sport. I mean, you know? What can I do? It's -- we've been take our responsibilities as athletes as answering every request, because that is also our responsibility as athlete. We are not hiding. But obviously right now, I mean, what can I do? Case solved for us. Case not solved for skating. But also, the Games go on, so please enjoy your Olympic Games.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Thank you very much. I'd like to thank everyone.

HEMMER: All right, there we go. David Pelletier and Jamie Sale. A class act there, in taking the questions. They have won their gold medal. The Russians will keep their gold medal as well. And the French judge has been suspended from the sport for now.

But two things that, really, from David Pelletier there that really shows how much of a class act he was. He opened up his statement by expressing his regret that what's happened with their story has overshadowed the stories of so many other athletes. In fact, he touched on it again there as well.

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