Kim Boutin captures short-track bronze medal at Winter Olympics

GANGNEUNG, Korea, Republic Of — Canadian short-track speedskater Kim Boutin has captured a bronze medal in the women’s 500 metres at the Winter Olympics.

The athlete from Sherbrooke, Que., finished fourth but was bumped up to third after South Korea’s Minjeong Choi was disqualified.

Arianna Fontana of Italy won gold in 42.569 seconds while Yara van Kerkhof was second in 43.256.

Boutin finished in 43.881 while Britain’s Elise Christie crashed out of the five-woman final.

The medal capped what started out as a disappointing day for the Canadian team.

Veteran racer Marianne St-Gelais, competing in her final Games, failed to make it out of the quarterfinals after receiving a penalty for impeding.

St-Gelais made contact with Yara Van Kerkhof of the Netherlands while jockeying for position.

The Canadian was also penalized for a false start, which came as a suprise to her.

“It’s disappointing for sure because I don’t think I deserve this call,” St-Gelais said. “But short track is short track, so sometimes you have to deal with what is happening. I’m not happy with the decision. I don’t think I deserved it.”

The 27-year-old from Saint-Felicien, Que., was a medal threat for the Canadians after winning silver in the distance at last year’s world championships.

St-Gelais also took silver in the 500 during the 2010 Vancouver Games.

The three-time Olympic medallist has earned silver in the 3,000 metre relay in each of the previous two Olympics.

St-Gelais will compete in the 3,000 metres of Feb. 20 with fellow Canadians Boutin, Jamie MacDonald and Kasandra Bradette.

“I have to focus on the other (races) if I want to make it count,” said St-Gelais. “We still have the relay. I’m lucky I got to race the three distances, so I have another chance.”

The Canadian Press