Speedskater Kim Boutin harassed, threatened after controversial medal

Canadian speedskater Kim Boutin has been receiving a deluge of hatred online from fans who are upset with the way she won a medal in the 500 meter event at the Olympics on Tuesday.

Boutin crossed the finish line fourth in the event behind South Korean Choi Min-jeong, but she was bumped up to a bronze medal after Choi was disqualified for interference. Choi interfered with Boutin twice during the race.

Choi appeared to initiate contact with Boutin as she was coming from the outside and trying to pass her, leading Boutin to push her away. Choi then tried to pull off a similar move a few seconds later, which is when the screenshots below were taken (they show Boutin making contact with Choi). It was like Choi was trying to cut Boutin in line, and she was trying to push her away.

Ironically, Boutin’s push helped propel Choi ahead. Choi ended up second in a photo finish to Arianna Fontana, who won gold. Choi being disqualified for interference after finishing second angered many Korean fans.

Some fans felt that Boutin (in red) was the one who had pushed during the race:

@Olympics @pyeongchang2018
It's not the first time that she pushed other sakters in race. At 4th short track olympic, Kim Boutin pushed Sim Seokhee of Korea. Same thing happened today. Choi's disqualification should be reconsidered. Really. pic.twitter.com/Ok6JrUeHoC

— Vera (@ritxian01) February 13, 2018

This is unfair. Boutin Kim wearing red uniform in the 1st picture wasn't disqualified although she pushed Choi Minjeong. However, she was disqualified because she just stretched her arm inside the track. No one was damaged by her. We can't admit this judge. pic.twitter.com/o6nMNsQ8IT

—(@wkselqhtss) February 13, 2018

#olympics2018 #PyeongChang2018
w h y is choi minjung getting a penalty when kim boutin pushed her? are the judges and refs blind or what? pic.twitter.com/bZzMUgCu7v

— k [YUZURU FOR GOLD] (@soft94z) February 13, 2018

Korean fans began attacking some of Boutin’s past social media posts and bombarded them with negative comments. The CBC says one comment even said “If I find you, you will die.”

Boutin’s father told Radio Canada that Speed Skating Canada has called to inform him the RCMP, Canadian Olympic Committee and the sport federation were looking into the matter.

Boutin has since made her Twitter and Instagram profiles private to avoid the negative comments. Unfortunately, she’s not the first athlete to make a profile private due to a controversy.