"They've got the gold," Gene Sal? confidently predicted as he watched his daughter Jamie finish her pairs figure skating routine with partner David Pelletier.

After all, with such a flawless performance what other outcome could there possibly be?

But Bermuda resident Gene had not taken account of the wims of the judges at Monday night's performance in Salt Lake City.

For instead of declaring the Canadian pair as Olympic champions, the judges reserved the top place on the podium for Russians Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze. That despite the fact Sikharulidze stepped out of a double axel and the Russians failed to match the emotion of their long-time rivals.

The marking was widely booed by spectators and most of the crowd at the Olympic Ice Centre believed the Canadians' performance to music from Love Story was good enough for the top spot.

Certainly, father Gene, despite his obvious family bias, thought so.

"It was probably one of the best skates those kids have had," he said yesterday. "It's the same skate that they won the Worlds with in Vancouver and they got two sixes there.

"They skated just as well or better last night and got 5.9s."

Gene, who works for Elite Electrical, said his reaction was mirrored by those around him.

"The whole crowd was just going nuts," he said. "Everybody thought they had won. They were all chanting `six, six six'."

When they did not get it he went from being on a high to a low.

"At first I was devastated and then I got mad," he said. "I'm her dad but I think there were a few million other people who agreed with me."

As the minutes went by Gene said he began to reflect on just what an achievement it was for the pair to be runners-up.

"I love those kids and they skated their hearts out and, hey, there's nothing wrong with the silver medal," he said. "They are the second best in the world."

Gene said all he wanted to do was see his daughter but he had to wait until midnight after Sal? and Pelletier had finished ten television interviews.

"First of all when she came in she was bawling," he said. "And of course there were about 20 cameras in our faces and lights and stuff.

"She hugged me for about two or three minutes and I just told her `we are proud of you no matter what. You guys skated your hearts out, we love you and the whole world loves you'."

After the medal ceremony, Pelletier talked about quitting the sport altogether saying: "After a night like tonight, you badly want to cut your figure skating career short."

However, Gene said his daughter had not made any such decision.

"We never talked about it last night because it was too soon," he said. "But we were talking to them earlier in the year and they said if they won the gold they might go pro. There is serious money going pro and if you win the gold the endorsements are probably close to a $1 million over the first year.

"But silver? It's like kissing your sister, there's not a whole lot of reward for second place."

Late yesterday, the International Skating Union (ISU) announced an inquiry would be launched into the controversial judging of the event.

The ISU statement said: "Following the reaction of the public and the media to the results of the pairs event at the Salt Lake Ice Centre last night, and to respect public opinion, the ISU is doing an internal assessment to monitor if the ISU rules and procedures have been respected.

"Any further comment will be given when appropriate."

The ISU made its statement after a routine judges' meeting to look back at Monday's voting.

More coverage of the Winter Olympics on Page 19.