Kim Boutin wins Olympic short-track bronze in speed skating

By Pete Evans, CBCSports

Canadian speed skater Kim Boutinhas won a bronze medal in the women's short-track event at the Pyeongchang Olympics.

The 500-metre race ended in a photo finish between Italy'sAriannaFontanaand South Korea's MinjeongChoi. After the race, judges determined that Choihad impeded Fontana, so she was disqualified.

That meant Boutin, who had crossed the line in fourth, was bumped up to third, and third-place finisher Yara Van Kerkhof of the Netherlands got bumped up to silver.

"It's just unbelievable right now," she told the CBC after the race. "Idon't really believe what happened."

WATCH: Kim Boutin ecstatic after capturing bronze:

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She hasnow earneda bronze in her first Olympics, and her Games experience isn't over yet she'll race again in the 1,000 and the 1,500, as well as with her Canadian teammates in the 3,000-metre relay later this week.

"It's agood beginning and Iwant tocontinuelike that," Boutin said.

The medal capped what started out as a disappointing day for the Canadian short-trackteam.

Veteran Canadian skaterMarianneSt-Gelaiswas apodium hopeful in the sameevent, but was disqualified in an earlier heat after it was deemed she had interfered with another skater.

"Iwasn't ready for that call,"St-Gelaistold the CBCafter the race. "Idon't think Ideserved it, but that's short track."

VIDEO:Marianne St-Gelaisdisappointed after DQ:

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"It just hurts," St-Gelais said, adding that she wants to move on and focus on her next races, the1,000, the 1,500, as well as 3,000-metre relay.

St-Gelais didn't let her own disappointment stop her from cheering on teammate Boutin, however. The veteran St-Gelais was the first to greet the Olympic rookie with a big hug once it became clear Boutinhad been bumped up to third.

"I know she wanted tobe there," Boutin said with tears in her eyes, "At the beginningof my race she said 'OK, Kim,go reach the medal you deserve.'"

"To be there after my race, wow," Boutin said. "I don'thow an athlete can do that for another."

Canadian men move on

On the men's side,no medals were handed out, but Canadians largely moved on to skate again.

CharlesHamelin, who is trying to win two medals tobecome Canada's most decorated winter Olympian at these Winter Games, set an Olympic record time of one minute 23:407 secondsin his heat to qualify for the quarter-finals in the men's 1,000.

His teammate, SamuelGirard,also moved on, after finishing second in his heat.

A third Canadian, CharleCournoyer, was eliminated after ending up third in his heatin a photo finish.

The three Canadian men alsoteamed up with fellow Canadian Pascal Dion in the 5,000-metre relay,advancingto the finals set for later in the week.