Canadian hockey player accused of poor sportsmanship on medal stand after losing to US
They’re both precious metals, but gold has a lot more value than silver.
The same is true when it comes to Olympic medals.
The American women’s hockey team won gold Thursday at the Winter Games in Pyeongchang, and the joy of forward Hilary Knight and her teammates could hardly be contained.
This one was for YOU.
THANK YOU for believing in us!!!😘🇺🇸
#TeamUSA #Olympics #Gold pic.twitter.com/HKHLPKgtE8— Hilary Knight (@HilaryKnight) February 22, 2018
The Americans defeated four-time defending Olympic champion Team Canada 3-2 in a dramatic shootout.
Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson scored an incredible goal in the sixth frame of the shootout to put the Americans on top, and 20-year-old goalie Maddie Rooney made her 31st save of the game to lock up the victory.
.@TeamUSA IS GOLDEN!
The @usahockey women take down rival Canada for their first gold since 1998! #WinterOlympics #BestOfUS https://t.co/wS6s9ulmoA pic.twitter.com/o4gJr8g7sV
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 22, 2018
Team USA’s golden joy was countered by the Canadians’ distaste for silver.
One Team Canada player in particular made it clear she placed zero value in finishing second.
When the silver medal was placed around the neck of defender Jocelyne Larocque, she immediately yanked it off.
Canada's Jocelyne Larocque took off her silver medal immediately after receiving it. #WinterOlympics https://t.co/wS6s9ulmoA pic.twitter.com/CcjiKOd58W
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 22, 2018
Many observers thought it showed poor sportsmanship.
This is unsportsmanlike. I know athletes don’t compete for 2nd but there is an acceptable way to behave and this isn’t it. If USA had taken silver and behaved this way I would be very disappointed.
— Laura (@ReallyLaLa1) February 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/harbourqueen905/status/966649639930875904
sure the silver seems like last place right now, but there’s no need to whip off your medal. yes it’s disappointing but you’re still representing your country.
— jackie (@jackie86wac) February 22, 2018
Poor sportsmanship. Don’t care how heartbroken you are, you don’t do this.
— Vonda Hanner (@VondaHanner) February 22, 2018
Garbage sportsmanship. I've been playing hockey my whole life and have never acted this way. Shame.
— Frank (@hockeyfrank26) February 22, 2018
Some, however, defended Larocque, saying she’s a fiery competitor who was crushed by the defeat.
Anyone saying this is poor sportsmanship has never given everything to a dream only to fall excruciatingly close. It HURTS. To take that kind of risk take guts, and people who do should be applauded.
— Jonathan Beerhalter (@JBeerhalter) February 22, 2018
I have no problem with this. She accepted the medal gracefully, and then removed it.
— Matt Boyd (@Mrxboyd) February 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/dougiebrimson/status/966592690010972160
Larocque herself said of the moment, “It was just hard. I mean, we were going for gold. We were chasing that gold medal.”
Her Pyeongchang silver will serve as a shiny reminder of how she and her teammates fell short.
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