Beijing Games: South Korean Olympic skating champion Shim Suk-hee suspended over text messages, may miss Winter Olympics
- Short-track star Shim punished by authorities for text messages that ‘marred the dignity of athletes’
- Decision could stop two-time gold medallist from competing in February
Two-time Olympic short-track champion Shim Suk-hee has been suspended for two months over text messages she sent that authorities say “marred the dignity of athletes,” a decision that could bar her from attending the Beijing Winter Olympics.
The Korea Skating Union (KSU) said on Wednesday it had decided to suspend Shim from the national team during a disciplinary meeting.
Shim can appeal the ruling to the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee or file for an injunction with a local court. Even if either of them accepts her appeal, the KSU said it was not obliged to overturn or lessen its penalty immediately, and can hold another internal meeting to discuss whether to include her in the national team.
This possible lengthy process suggests it could be difficult for Shim to go to Beijing, as the Olympics open on February 4 and South Korea’s Olympic committee plans to submit its short-track entry list on January 24.
In October, Shim was cut from the team after local media reported what it described as text messages exchanged between her and her coach where she insulted two teammates, and suggested she might have deliberately tripped one of them, Choi Min-jeong, during the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games.
The skating union said it has not found any evidence proving Shim intentionally tripped Choi.
According to the union, Kim Seong-cheol, head of the KSU committee that determined Shim’s two-month suspension, said she received the penalty because her messages invited public criticism and undermined the dignity of other athletes.