After being allowed to compete amid doping allegations Valieva placed fourth.
Former athletes reacted online to the results of the women's figure skating individual event, with sympathy for Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva and frustration with sports officials who allowed them to skate.
In an unexpected turn of events, 15-year-old Valieva finished fourth in the event that ended on Thursday after falling multiple times. Valieva was seen crying after her performance.
The incident has sparked controversy after Valiva tested positive for a banned drug in December ahead of the Russian Figure Skating Championships.
According to ABC's Alexandra Fall, after ROC skater Anna Shcherbakova finished her program, members of Team USA sat in the arena and walked out, before Kamila Valieva took to the ice as the final skater.
Shcherbakova won the gold, ROC skater Alexandra Trusova won the silver, and Japanese skater Kaori Sakamoto won the bronze.
Former figure skater and Olympic bronze medalist Ashley Wagner weighed in on Twitter, criticizing the Court of Arbitration for the sport's decision to allow Veliva to skate at the event.
"It's a moment where you really have to say—that poor kid. He should never have been put in this position. He shouldn't have been out on that ice, he shouldn't have been put in a position where he was." That became the face of a bigger problem," Wagner said in a tweet.
I can’t watch this. They all look devastated. This just shows that these a children that are put in a position that is so wildly unhealthy and harmful to them. I’m sick to my stomach. #WinterOlympics #FigureSkating
— Ashley Wagner (@AshWagner2010) February 17, 2022
Wagner also expressed disappointment at Valiva becoming the center of attention throughout the event, outshining the other skaters.
I hate that this entire thing has been about one athlete. That we can’t celebrate the moments brought to us by Kaori and Wakaba and so many more bc this will ALWAYS be the conversation #WinterOlympics #FigureSkating
— Ashley Wagner (@AshWagner2010) February 17, 2022
Valieva, who was expected to win gold, became the first woman to make a quadruple jump at the Winter Olympics during this year's team event. Medals for the team event have not yet been awarded, pending the results of an investigation that could lead to Valieva's disqualification from the Olympics.
American Olympian Polina Edmonds also expressed sympathy for Veliva.
"Very painful Olympic experience for Kamila Valieva. She shouldn't have been allowed to compete, it's devastating that she was placed in this position, at all levels," Edmonds said on Twitter.
Edmonds also criticized the justice system and coaches for "misusing" athletes.
"If you're getting mad at anybody, go mad at the justice system. They're the ones who are causing it all. Get mad at the coaching team that prioritizes medals over health, not the entire nation." There are so many clean athletes who have also suffered from this team's monopoly," Edmonds said in another tweet.
The judging system has awarded sloppy technical over artistry for the last 4 years, not giving honest marks for lack of components and technical quality. THAT is why we’re seeing emotional/physical abuse of young skaters who are just trying to play the game. Skating is sad☹️
— Polina Edmunds (@PolinaEdmunds) February 17, 2022
The judging system has awarded sloppy technical over artistry for the last 4 years, not giving honest marks for lack of components and technical quality. THAT is why we’re seeing emotional/physical abuse of young skaters who are just trying to play the game. Skating is sad☹️
— Polina Edmunds (@PolinaEdmunds) February 17, 2022
In a video he posted on Twitter, two-time Olympian figure skater and NBC Olympic analyst Johnny Weir described the event as heartbreaking.
"It was the most bizarre and heartbreaking incident that I have witnessed in my entire life and I hope it will never be repeated," Veer said.
Former American figure skater Adam Rippon also tweeted, "What a s*and$show omg."
— ❄️Denali❄️ (@denalifox) February 17, 2022