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Canada's Boutin hit with online threats after bronze medal win

Harry How / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Canada's Kim Boutin is being threatened online after winning the bronze medal in the short track speedskating 500-meter event following the disqualification of a South Korean athlete.

Choi Min-jeong initially finished second was but disqualified shortly afterward for interfering with another skater. That decision saw Boutin take a spot on the podium instead of the local athlete.

Following that decision, Boutin received various threats on social media. According to CBC, those threats include:

  • "Aren't you ashamed to have cheated in the last Olympic Games?"
  • "You know what? You should be disqualified. Shame on you!"
  • "If I find you, you will die."
  • "Retire and I hope you have a hard life."

While the majority of the comments blamed the referee for the decision, there were a few that caused concern for Boutin. Her father, Pierre Boutin, told CBC Radio-Canada that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian Olympic Committee, and Speed Skating Canada are handling the situation.

Boutin is back in action Saturday in the 1,500-meter race.

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