Russians dismiss controversy over figure skating judges Adelina Sotnikova was celebrating becoming Russia's first ever women's Olympic figure skating champion as claims swirled Friday that the Games' hosts and not the skater had been awarded the gold medal. Speaking on Friday, Sotnikova's coach dismissed the claims, including those surrounding Russian judge Alla Shekhovtseva, who is married to the Russian figure skating federation general director Valentin Piseev. Images and soundbites.