DISGRASIAN™

An Olympic Medal By Default Would Smell As Sweet

In the nail-biter Final of the women’s 3,000-meter speed skate relay last night, the South Korean anchor whizzed across the finish line in gold medal position–with Chinese rivals scowling at their tail, Canada scrambling just behind, and the U.S. over a half-lap away.

Minutes later, South Korea got disqualified for this bump, which happened during the last turn:

A little bump 'n' grind

And with the leaders out, et voilà, the lagging U.S. team instantly became a team of bronze medalists.

Luck be four ladies tonight!

No, it was not one of those “it was our glorious third act, and we gave it everything, and we overcame the odds in a clutch moment” medal situations for the Americans. But hey, if it walks like an Olympic medal and talks like an Olympic medal, call your parents and high school bullies and start fuckin’ celebrating!

[Sporting News: South Korea Disqualified for Incidental Contact During Short Track Roller Derby Relay]
[Philly: Last Place Turns to Bronze for Baver, U.S. Speedskaters]

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Filed under: 2010 Winter Olympics, Asians and Speed Skating, Bronze Medal, Bumps, Canada, China, Disqualificasian, Rivals, South Korea, South Korea Women's Relay Team Disqualified, Speed Skating, the Olympics, United States Bronze Medal, Vancouver Olympics, Vancouver Winter Olympics, Whooppsie, Winter Olympics

One Response to “An Olympic Medal By Default Would Smell As Sweet”

1. loudhearted says:

   February 25, 2010 at 12:20 pm

   Now I’m not South Korean (Chinese actually) so this isn’t partisan opinion speaking, but this reeks of bullshit. The ability to DQ is held solely by a chief referee, and the guy who DQed South Korea in this race is the same one who had the whole controversial DQ business back in 2002 with Apolo Ohno and Kim Dong-sung…aaand I’m sorry but it looks like just an incidental bump. I saw worse in the other short track events (like Ohno being almost completely knocked off his skates in the 1,000 meter) Plus, I’m happy for the US team and all, but being dead last in the race and getting a medal by default (it’s not like there was a 5th team that they beat) is kinda meh. I’ll give em mucho props for making it to the final but thats about it.