Controversy sees Canada miss podium for first time in women’s 3000m relay

A short track speed skating round up, sees the Canadian women's 3,000M relay team eliminated in controversy, but better news for Canada on the individual skating front.

For the first time in the history of the short track women’s 3000m relay, Canada will not be featured on the podium.

Team Canada — which features skaters Marianne St-Gelais, Kim Boutin, Valerie Maltais and Kasandra Bradette — was involved in a massive collision during the finals of the event, resulting in penalties awarded to both the Canadian and Chinese teams.

Throughout the 27-lap race, Canada was battling in second place with South Korea and China when a member of South Korea appeared to collide with Canada during an exchange, causing absolute chaos on the ice.

Multiple skaters were sent in different directions leaving only the South Korean and Chinese teams up and running.

It was the host nation’s team that edged out China before Italy and Canada eventually crossed the finish line, tentatively placing Canada in fourth before the referees had a chance to review all the on-ice chaos.

After a lengthy review that awarded the Canadians and Chinese penalties and eliminated them from contention, Team Canada looked shocked as South Korea celebrated its gold medal with Italy snagging silver and the Netherlands, who set a world record in the Final B race, were awarded bronze.

The event was first introduced in the Winter Olympics in 1992, the only year that Canada captured gold, and for the first time a group of Canadian women will not be standing on the podium.

South Korea picked up its sixth medal in the event, all of which are gold.

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