Medal-winning speedskater receives death threats after controversial race
One of the biggest perks for athletes competing in the Olympics is that they can compete on the grandest stage and show off for the world.
One of the biggest drawbacks for athletes competing in the Olympics is that some of their worst moments are on the grandest stage for the world to see.
Take Canadian speedskater Kim Boutin, for example.
She took home the bronze medal in the women’s 500-meter short track speedskating event Tuesday in Pyeongchang.
Instead of congratulations, however, Boutin was subjected to harassment and death threats for her third-place finish.
As the internet is wont to do, cowards empowered by keyboard courage were not happy with the controversy surrounding Boutin’s bronze medal and lashed out at her.
Boutin originally finished in fourth place but was bumped up to third when second-place finisher Choi Min-jeong of South Korea was disqualified for interference.
Choi was accused of interfering and impeding Boutin’s attempt to overtake her in the final stretch of the race.
So far, no controversy. An Olympic competitor violated a rule and was promptly penalized.
Unfortunately, viewers jumped on Boutin for a separate incident earlier in the race. Cameras caught her seemingly pushing off of Choi.
https://twitter.com/hyen_8497/status/963392824505909248
https://twitter.com/TG_Copi_Half_EX/status/963390928579837952
Now, a case could certainly be made that Boutin may have gotten away with something illegal and that the referees may have missed the call.
Pointing out and lamenting a whiffed penalty is one thing.
But threatening Boutin’s life? That’s obviously beyond the pale.
Canada's Kim Boutin receives death threats after winning short-track bronzehttps://t.co/whRMrHjyF5 pic.twitter.com/4RFA0VbP7f
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 13, 2018
Boutin had to make her social media accounts private because of the amount of vitriol aimed in her direction.
“If I find you, you will die,” one commentator wrote on her account, per USA Today.
The most ridiculous part of this all is that Choi doesn’t seem nearly as outraged as some of the cowards threatening Boutin.
“I was able to have a good race in the final thanks to lots of support,” said Choi after the race, per the Straits Times. “I did not want to leave with any regrets as I prepared as best I could. I accept the result and will focus on the remaining competitions.”
Italy’s Arianna Fontana won the gold medal in the event, the Netherlands’ Yara van Kerkhof took home the silver medal, and Boutin won bronze.
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