"Oh my gosh! I made a big accident at the Olympics!" Shocking career path obstruction → rematch → China took away medals, and even another colleague took them [Milan Olympics]

*This content was translated by AI.

Dutch speed skater Yof Benemars (24) blew his first Olympic medal in front of him after being blocked by a Chinese athlete's excessive driving.

Venemars competed in Group 11 in the men's 1,000m speed skating event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics at Milan Speed Skating Stadium in Italy on the 12th (Korea time). And the opponent who raced side by side on the ice with him was Lian Zhiwen of China.

He posted a good time of 40.99 seconds up to the 600m Benemars. The moment in question occurred in a section where lanes were replaced by each other while turning a corner and entering the last straight lane. Lian Tzu-won, who was exiting from the in-course to the out-course, touched the skate blade by invading the driving line of Venemas, an out-course runner with priority. Hard to see in speed skating. It was an obvious non-manner. Venemars was reeling, momentarily losing his balance, and naturally suffered the fatal damage of a sharp decrease in speed.

Even with hindrance, Venemars rose to first place with a time of 1:07.58 to reach Group 11 at the time. A situation in which he could have moved his record much further if there had not been a conflict with Lianzhiwon. As soon as Benemars crossed the finish line, he looked at Lian Tzu-wen, who was following him, and expressed his anger violently.

Lian Zhiwen reached out late and offered a gesture of apology. However, Venemars turned a blind eye to it and vented his anger. The referees decided that Lian Tzu-wen tried to change the lane too much and were disqualified.

In the end, Venemars fell behind China's Nin Zhong Yan (1:07.34), who came in third overall, and ranked fifth and eventually failed to reach the podium. Jordan Stoltz of the U.S. topped the list with a new Olympic record of 1:06.28. Benemars' fellow countryman Yening the Boe (the Netherlands), who followed with Stoltz, came in second with a time of 1:06.78.

In response, Venemars requested a rematch. The judges gave Benemars a chance to replay the race, with all the players through to Group 15.

Venemars stood alone on the ice. I did my best with a skate blade. However, he had already run out of energy due to the previous race. It was a lonely run. It was harsh to stand alone on the ice without a competitor in just 20 minutes after all-out efforts. Venemas, who raced back to the crowd's enthusiastic applause, showed his physical limitations and was only in the 1:08 range. The record was worse than the previous race. In the end, Benemars ended the race in the final fifth place, reflecting the pre-crash record of 1:07.58.

Coincidentally, the bronze medal winner was another Chinese athlete, Ning Zhongyan (1:07:34). When the bronze medal was confirmed after watching Venemas' rematch, the cheering Chinese coaching staff and players were in stark contrast to Venemas, who bowed their heads.

According to British media The Guardian, after the match, Venemars said, "I was following my driving line and a Chinese player blocked the road. It's completely ruined. "The Olympic dream is shattered and my heart is broken," he said, expressing intense emotions with anger.

Venemars continued, "Everyone here believes that I would have won a medal (without Lianzhiwon's interference). It was unfair to have a rematch when there was no competitor (to race together). However, the only way to win a medal was through a rematch," he said, expressing regret.

Venemars said, "After a few days, people will forget this moment. I'll be left as a medalless athlete. I don't know what I'm feeling right now. "I want to cry, but I can't cry," he said, adding, "That doesn't help me at all." I could have won a bronze medal, or even a silver medal. But the opportunity was taken away," he said, raising his voice.

Dutch coach Yak Ori also said, "The athletes work tremendously for the Olympic stage. But it's terrible to be disturbed like this. It was a difficult scene to accept even me as a coach. I can't imagine how hard Benemars will be," he said.

China's Ning Zhongyan, who won a bronze medal in the non-manner of his fellow countrymen, finished fifth at the 2022 Beijing Games on his home turf four years ago. "I was very nervous while waiting for the rematch of Venemars. I was afraid. All I could do was pray to heaven. The bronze medal I received this time shows that my efforts over the past four years have not been in vain," he said, expressing emotion.

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*This content was translated by AI.