Apolo Anton Ohno disqualified in men's 500-meter final

Short-track speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno didn't add another medal to his collection Friday night, when he was disqualified for pushing in the final of the men's 500 meters at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Ohno appeared to push Francois-Louis Tremblay of Canada on the final turn, causing Tremblay and South Korean skater Sung Si-Bak to fall.

Charles Hamelin of Canada won the gold, Sung the silver, Tremblay the bronze. Ohno has one more chance to win a medal later Friday night in the men's 5,000-meter relay.

-- Houston Mitchell in Vancouver, Canada

Photo: Apolo Anton Ohno, left, was disqualified for pushing the skater in front of him on the final turn. Credit: John David Mercer, U.S. Presswire.

Comments

[Jonathan]

it was very disheartening to see him DQ'd... but as soon as I saw his hand go on the hip, I knew he was pushing. Bummer

[Trashman1990]

It was an extremely bad call. If you look at the left skate of the Canadian that fell the "shoe" part of the skate touched the ice, for anyone who skates this means an instant fall if your not well on your other skate, this is because the smooth surface of the shoe has no traction on the ice and pressure is lifted off of the blade... then physics does its thing. It had nothing to do with Ohno. (PST3)

[Den]

Want to tell us what country Apolo Anton Ohno skates for? lol

[Harold]

The race has not been seen in the other three time zones. Why are you posting this?

[J]

Ohno did not "appear" to push. Watch it again. He did not extend his arm out in a pushing motion at all. Let's call it like it is - A Canadian judge on Canadian soil disqualifies Ohno to advance a Canadian. What a joke.

[Jared Mom]

Oh my gosh - did you people SEE the race - Apolo put his hand up to protect himself from the other skater - the other skater's foot clearly slipped - obviously nothing to do with any hand touching his hip - this call was completely and totally bogus and just plain wrong. Thankfully, we have video to watch and see for ourselves just what happened. This is clearly a bad call and I'm glad Ap0lo said what he said because he was totally right and when he watches the video, he'll see exactly what happened. Totally bogus.

[Not quite]

Ohno's push of Tremblay had nothing to do with Sung Si-Bak to fall. In fact, you could make a good argument that Hamelin put Sung Si-Bak down.

[sandi]

ohno had it coming. . . my family has known him since he was in juniors. . . and controversy has always followed him. he's been able to garner good press but anyone that knows him knows what kind of person he is, off the ice. congrats to the canadian.

[Rick761]

If he was pushing Tremblay, his hand would have followed Tremblay as he fell, it was very clear in the replay that he wasn't pushing.

[Bryan]

Hey L.A. Times get your facts straight, Ohno only touched Tremblay, Sung Si-Bak fell only after Hamelin touched him, Hamelin was not disqualifies however, I guess the judges were Canadian.

[Ryan]

He wasn't pushing. Look closely, he had his hand resting on his hip (which you see a lot) but watch when he fell, it didn't appear to be due to any pushing. It didn't look like the hand was applying any pressure, in fact it appeared that he removed his hand before the guy started to fall. That's what it looked like to me and that's what Apollo said after the race.

[Suzanne Cozad]

Doesn't anyone else find it interesting that the Canadian put his hand on the Korean and it was obvious that he pushed, the Korean fell and yet he was not DQ'd? The magnifying glass was on Apolo, but as they showed the slow motion, it sure was obvious of the Canadian mistake, but he wasn't called on it! Politics! Truly a bummer!

[John C. Pavlovski]

Couldn't have happened to a "nicer" guy. His pre-race posturing like a banty rooster, face agape w one long bored yawn. Ennui. "Been here done that". As if his opponents did not belong on the same ice as he did. I used to like him. NOT anymore. A certain amount of arrogance is fine and indeed necessary but he took it to the nth degree. BOO!

[Crisi]

I was also sad when I saw Apolo's hand raise, but didnt Hamelin also do the same? In my opinion, the race should be re-done. How can Apolo be disqualified for the same thing Hamelin did at almost the same time.

[Anne]

Ok, I get Ohno got disqualified because he put his hand on Tremblay, and Tremblay fell, (Ohno wouldn't have gotten disqualified had Tremblay not fallen) but the skater did fall! But Hamelin, if you watch closely, put his hand on the Korean skater and he fell, and NOTHING, he wins gold!!!????? If they disqualified Ohno for touching another skater, they sure as hell also had to disqualified Hamelin!!! Eveyone was touching everyone in this race, but the only one disqualified was Ohno!!! Congratualions though to the American Men Relay Team for winning Bronze, amazing race!

[Miike M]

Instead of complaining about a Canadian Judge disqualifing him for pushing Tremblay, why not be honourable and take ownership of a mistake instead of blaming someone else and
embarrassing your country.

[Sabrina]

Congratulations Apolo on all of the medals you have won!! I love watching you skate and I really loved watching you dance on Dancing with the Stars!! Go USA!!!

[Paul]

It's about time he was disqualified for doing what he always does.

[star]

In another of Apolo's races - a skater appeared to put his hand on Apolo's hip and push - he was NOT disqualified.
Also in this race where Apolo was disqualified.....watch the winner - his hand is on the hip of the other skater that fell. Why was he NOT disqualified.
UNFAIR!!!!! If one was taken out, the other should of been also.

[JJJ]

that was a dirty move by Ohno... he deserves to be disqualified.

[pasadenagal]

Regarding the "yawning", most of the skaters do it if you watch them before each race, it actually wakes up your brain more if you yawn as well as un-plugging your ears, it doesn't mean you are bored. Get a life!

[Melissa W]

I am highly upset....just cuz he fell apollo gets disqualified...cuz that wasn't the only pushing that went on....the cameras don't lie

[emilee]

I agree 100% with Anne. However, i did not get to see this race i heard it was insane!! I wanted to see it very badly. Ohno should NOT NOT NOT have gotten DQ'd. If the case was they all were touching they should've just restarted the race. But, we can't re-do it. So, congrats Apolo Anton Ohno. Love ya from the bottom of my heart!!!! EIGHT! <3

[MH]

@ Pavlovski. Ohno yawns as a means to relax before a race.

[Mike]

You can't stake too much in a report that differs from coverage itself. "causing Tremblay and South Korean skater Sung Si-Bak to fall" ...had nothing to do with Ohno at all. Sports, continuing to be ruined by subjective judgment.