The Canadian mixed relay lost a medal due to a penalty in the final at the Beijing Olympics.
In the first presentation at the Olympic Games of the mixed relay, the Canadian team earned their ticket to the semi-finals by finishing second in their heat. The Maple Leaf formation then clinched its ticket to the final by winning its heat of the semi-finals. The fall of the Netherlands opened the door for the Canadians to race to the final.
The fight with China, Italy and Hungary promised to be fierce for the Canadian team made up of Florence Brunelle, Kim Boutin, Steven Dubois and Jordan Pierre-Gilles. Canada temporarily moved into second place, but a pass by China dropped them to third place in a battle with the Hungarians.
Florence Brunelle found herself at one point behind her Hungarian rival and she caused her downfall. Canada recovered to cross the finish line in third position, but after a video review the judges determined that the Canadian had pushed her opponent from behind which caused the fall and a penalty was awarded to Canada, disqualifying thus the relay team a medal. The Canadian squad ultimately finished sixth due to the penalty.
“She wanted to do an inside pass and she caught the blade of the other skater in front, which caused the two to fall,” explained Kim Boutin, who was also in the race.
Brunelle, the youngest Olympian in Canadian short track history at 18, rushed through the mixed zone and would not comment on her evening. Boutin, one of three members of the Canadian short track team who have already participated in the Olympics, was the only Canadian athlete to meet the journalists.
“I know Florence, she is angry with her, indicated Boutin. It is our role to support her in this. Everyone can make a mistake. »
“It’s heartbreaking, but it happened to me at my first Olympics. We had been disqualified on my fault. It is certain that in relay, you take all the responsibility. »
The head coach of the Canadian team, Sébastien Cros, for his part affirmed that Brunelle had no reason to regret his aggressiveness in the race.
“When you want to win, you have to go. You have to take risks, he said. Sometimes it doesn’t work. »
“We told the athletes to give it our all, that we wanted to win. There is disappointment, but less frustration because we tried to be the best. If you don’t take the risk and do nothing and it doesn’t work out, it’s frustrating. That’s disappointment, not frustration. »
China climbed to the top step of the podium ahead of Italy and Hungary.
After winning three medals at the Pyeonchang Games in 2018, Kim Boutin kicked off her second Games earlier in the day with qualifying for the 500m event.
Boutin, who is the world record holder in the discipline, passed this first test without a hitch, dominating her wave, the third out of eight, with a time of 42.76.
His compatriots Florence Brunelle (43.479) and Alyson Charles (43.01), who are in their Olympic baptism, also managed to qualify for the quarter-finals.
For their part, Pascal Dion and Jordan Pierre-Gilles obtained their ticket for the next round in the qualifications of the 1000 m. The two Canadians each finished second in their respective heats to confirm their qualification.
