Canadian hockey player Jocelyne Larocque drew attention when she took off her silver medal upon being awarded it following the gold medal game at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang on Thursday.
Larocque’s Canadian team lost 3-2 in a shootout to rival US, whom they’d beaten in the gold medal game at the last two Olympics.
The medal presentation ceremony takes place on the ice after the game. Immediately after the silver medal was placed around her neck, Larocque removed it.
“You win a gold or a bronze medal, but you do not win a silver. You get it.”
Absolutely nothing wrong with what Jocelyne Larocque did. I love this woman even more now, she knows she’s worth nothing less than Gold. pic.twitter.com/KTcOO9BcC6
— Ayesha (@yagirldin) February 22, 2018
Larocque’s actions were questioned by some, who thought it showed poor sportsmanship and a lack of appreciation for her accomplishment. Larocque explained why she did it and said it was because they didn’t achieve what they wanted to.
“It’s just hard,” Larocque said, via the AP. “You work so hard. We wanted gold but didn’t get it.”
Larocque’s actions — especially so soon after the loss — make complete sense for a competitor. The silver comes as a disappointment to many, because you receive it after losing a gold medal game. That’s why the gold and bronze medal winners may feel more accomplished immediately after a game.
Perhaps Larocque will feel more appreciation for her silver in time, but for now, it’s understandable why it stood as a symbol of disappointment for her.
