Kim Boutin captures 500-metre short-track bronze at Olympics
Posted February 7, 2022 8:16 am.
Canadian short-track speedskater Kim Boutin has won a bronze medal in the women’s 500 metres at the Beijing Olympics, enhancing her impressive Winter Games resume.
The native of Sherbrooke, Que., won three medals at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics — bronze in the 500 and 1,500 and silver in the 1,000 — and got the nod to be Canada’s flag-bearer at the Closing Ceremony.
Boutin, 27, won a photo finish to place second in her semifinal on Monday, sending her to the final.
Arianna Fontana of Italy won gold, while Suzanne Schulting of the Netherlands took silver.
It was Canada’s fifth medal of the Beijing Olympics — and third on Day 3.
Canada’s Florence Brunelle was penalized for the second time in as many days of competition in the opening 500-metre quarterfinal — which was won by Boutin.
Brunelle, from Trois-Rivieres, Que., made contact with fellow Canadian Alyson Charles on the final turn. Brunelle finished second and was due to advance as a top-two finisher, but she was eliminated on video review with Charles getting a spot in the semifinals. Charles was knocked out in the semis.
Two days earlier, Canada’s bronze in the mixed relay was taken away when the team was penalized for another collision involving Brunelle.
“I’ll just continue to have the mindset to go get it,” a visibly upset Brunelle told CBC. “I think that’s what I’m doing and that’s what I need to continue to do.”
Meanwhile, Canada’s Pascal Dion was eliminated in the men’s 1,000-metre quarterfinals when he lost his footing and crashed. The Montreal native is the top-ranked skater in the event in the World Cup standings this season.
Fellow Canadian Jordan Pierre-Gilles also was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
