"My mum stitched two flags together - the Hungarian flag and the Chinese flag. That is why it is going to be so special if I win and I can wave it in Beijing," the Olympic, world, and European short track speed skating champion said.Continue reading
Hungary’s Sándor Liu Shaolin claimed the title of Olympic champion in 1000-meter speed skating for three minutes, but after a video check, it was determined that he had committed two fouls and was therefore disqualified. As a result, his younger brother Liu Shaoang finished third and won a medal for Hungary, the second bronze at the Beijing Olympics.
This article was originally published on our sister-site, Ungarn Heute.
The final had to be started twice, as the first start was aborted after a few laps due to ice chunks on the surface. And although the first start was better for the Hungarian, he couldn’t complain about the second one either, as he quickly took the lead from second place. In the final, a total of three Chinese and two Hungarians competed against each other.
After the restart, the elder Liu brother engaged in a fierce battle with China’s Ren until the final meters.
Liu Shaolin Sándor (on the left) and the later winner Zsen Ce-vej (on the right) of China cross the finish line in the men’s 1000m short track speed skating final at the Indoor Stadium of the Capital of China at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, 7 February 2022. Photo by Tamás Kovács/MTI
The Hungarian skater fell while crossing the finish line and started to cheer.
Photo by Tamás Kovács/MTI
But then the video control came and the jury found that Liu had committed two fouls and disqualified him with a yellow card.
Photo by Tamás Kovács/MTI
For him, this was a big disappointment, but for his younger brother, it meant third place, his second third-place finish in Beijing, and the third medal of his career at the Olympics.
China’s Zsen Ce-vei (in the middle), winner, Li Ven-lung (on the left), runner-up, and Liu Shaoang (on the right), bronze medalist, during the flower ceremony of the men’s 1000m short track speed skating race at the Beijing Indoor Stadium at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, February 7, 2022. Photo by Tamás Kovács/MTI
It is the first time in the history of the Winter Olympics since 1924 that the Hungarian delegation has won more than one medal at a single event.
Liu Shaoang is the first Hungarian athlete to win at least three medals at the Winter Olympics: Four years ago he won a gold medal in the men’s 5000-meter relay, and a few days ago a bronze medal in the 2000-meter mixed relay.
Liu Shaoang is also the first Hungarian short-track athlete to win an individual medal at an Olympics.
Photo by Tamás Kovács/MTI
Featured image: Sándor Liu Shaolin waits for the result after the men’s short track speed skating 1000m final at the Indoor Stadium at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, February 7, 2022. Photo by Tamás Kovács/MTI