Athletes On The Scandal

As new examples of Olympic bribery and corruption ooze out day by day, politicians and pundits continue to wag fingers and scold the miscreants. One group, however, has been largely silent on the subject. What do the athletes think about the controversy enveloping the Games—their Games? SI asked a few former and aspiring Olympians for their views on the scandal:

Brian Boitano , 1988 gold-medal-winning U.S. figure skater: "The IOC ought to steer more of the athletes back onto the Olympic Committee. The athletes should be paid for serving, and they should be subject to election."

Todd Eldredge , two-time U.S. Olympic skater: "As athletes, we go to the Olympics to skate. I've never in my life met an IOC member. But this scandal shouldn't be that surprising, since you hear it's what goes on in politics. Why wouldn't it be in the Olympics?"

Alexandra Meissnitzer, Austrian skier, world champion in Super G and giant slalom: "Everything now is about money. The Olympics should be about the athletes, not money."

Bode Miller , U.S. slalom skier: "I think it's typical of this age and time. It seems more and more people are being exposed for the sleazes they are. It's just a bummer that they're running the show."

A.J. Mleczko, 1998 U.S. women's Olympic hockey team member: "As athletes we train and we compete, and nothing they do should be able to take away the spirit of the Olympics. But bribery taints that spirit. This has taken commercialization too far. It's sickening."