After falling on face, North Korea skater attempts to trip rival

IT doesn’t get much lower than this. After falling flat on his face at the start of his race, Jong Kwang-bom did the unthinkable.

Jong Kwang-bom had trouble staying on his skates. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

MAYBE we should cut him some slack given the reception he may face from Kim Jong-un when he returns home — but as far as bad sportsmanship goes this was as bad as it gets by North Korean speed skater Jong Kwang-bom.

One of just 10 North Korean athletes who made the journey south to compete in PyeongChang, Jong, 16, looked completely out of his depth as soon as his heat in the men’s 500m short track event began.

As he pushed off his right foot slipped from under him, causing him to fall flat on his face. But in what appeared to be a desperate attempt to earn a restart to the race, Jong threw out his right hand and tried to trip Japanese skater Keita Watanabe.

Watanabe shook off the grab and kept his balance, but officials deemed there was enough interference to order the competitors back to the start line.

Jong’s second attempt wasn’t much better as he again collided with Watanabe and crashed into the wall of the rink. He was penalised, bringing an end to his Olympic campaign, which lasted around three seconds in total.

After the race USA Today reporter Martin Rogers attempted to interview Jong, who he said “wore the kind of look you’d expect from someone who might have to go home and explain to a military regime with nuclear weapons why you performed so badly while representing your country”. But “when asked for comment, Jong turned his head the other way and kept walking”.

North Korea's Jong Kwang-bom falls before attempting to trip a Japanese skater. / AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS

Jong Kwang-bom introduces himself to the fence. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

His rivals were prepared to cut him some slack. Watanabe described Jong’s trip as a “reflex” and his coach, Jonathan Guilmette brushed the moment off as something that “happens at least once every World Cup event”.

American Thomas Hong, who was hampered by Jong’s second crash, was also generous. “It did affect me because I was just too close,” Hong told USA Today. “But unpredictability and short track just go hand-in-hand.”

But some viewers were less inclined to overlook the move as a normal part of speed skating.

How to do North Korea proud at #PyeongChang2018 try to take down a Japanese skater by any means necessary.... twice.

— Paul Johnson (@pjohnson_sports) February 20, 2018

Jong Kwang BOM of North Korea, falling after 5m and THEN trying to swipe your rival down with your hand. I see you. Behave. #PyecongChang2018

— Jack Perryman (@PerrymanJack) February 20, 2018

Men's 500m Heat7 Jong Kwang Bom, starts, falls all by himself, clearly tries to take out another skater, so how come restarts? #bbcolympics

— Iain Foster (@IainFoster4) February 20, 2018

In other men’s 500m heats, Wu Dajing of China set an Olympic-record 40.264 seconds, while Lim Hyo-jun, the 1,500 champion, moved on to the quarterfinals.

Canadian Samuel Girard, the 1000m winner, and 1000m bronze medallist Seo Yira of South Korea also safely advanced.

Two big names — 2010 Olympic champion Charles Hamelin of Canada and 1500m silver medallist Sjinkie Knegt of Hungary — were both penalised for impeding.

Americans John-Henry Krueger, Aaron Tran and Hong were eliminated. Krueger earned silver in the 1000m, which so far is the only speedskating medal won by the US.

— with AP