Hungarian speed skater’s Olympic gold taken away by mistake? – PHOTOS, VIDEO

Sándor Shaolin Liu won the gold in 1000m speed skating at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games yesterday. However, he could only celebrate his win for a couple of seconds. After a short examination, the jury disqualified him because of two fouls committed during the finals. He received a yellow card, the gold and silver went to Chinese athletes, while his brother won the bronze medal. Public outcry followed the decision in Hungary, and people are blaming the referees. The Hungarians challenged the decision, and South Koreans also complained about the jury’s work.

What happened in Beijing yesterday?

Three Chinese and two Hungarian athletes of Chinese origin competed in the finals yesterday. Interestingly, the race started twice due to ice chunks on the surface. The first try was better for the Hungarian Sándor Shaolin Liu, though he could not complain about the second, either. Liu and China’s Ren fought for the first place from the beginning right up to the final metres. The Hungarian athlete fell while crossing the finish line, then started to cheer.

Then came the video control and the jury.

They analysed the video recordings for a couple of minutes and disqualified the young Hungarian skater, giving the gold to Ren. Ren’s compatriot, Li Wenlong, won the silver, while the bronze went to Liu’s brother, Shaoang Liu.

In the history of the Winter Olympics, it was in 1924 that Hungary won more than one medal at a single event.

Hungarian skater disqualified by mistake?

The 26-year-old Hungarian skater’s brother, Liu Shaoang, stated at a press conference that “we are not referees, there is nothing we can do”. However, the Hungarian team challenged the jury’s decision. According to index.hu, Ren Ziwei jerked Liu backwards on the final metres of the race. He fell, but even so, he won. The Chinese athlete was not disqualified, and the Hungarian team’s challenge was rejected.

It is not only the Hungarians who raise their eyebrows, questioning the fairness of the referees at the Beijing Olympics. South Korea will turn to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) because of the semi-finals of the men’s 1000m speed skating, during which Hwang Daeheon and Lee Juneseo were disqualified, telex.hu reported. The Korean Olympic Committee said they would do everything to protect their athletes from unjust decisions. The public outcry was so huge in the Far Eastern country that even politicians claimed that