World Short Track Championships
The World Short Track Championships have become a nightmare for Hanne Desmet. After previous disqualifications in the 500m and 1500m, our compatriot raced to the world title in the 1000m, but it was taken away from her after a questionable incident. Desmet reacted angrily afterwards. “I’ve been robbed.”
Hanne Desmet was the first to cross the line during the final of the 1,000 meters, but was subsequently punished by the jury for allegedly hindering the Dutch Suzanne Schulting. He fell, just like the Korean Gilli Kim and the American Kirsten Santos-Griswold. Desmet stayed upright and crossed the line first, ahead of Italian Arianna Fontana. After a short deliberation, the jury decided to restart the competition, but without Hanne Desmet. The gold ultimately went to Santos-Griswold, to Kim and Fontana. Local favorite Schulting had to retire in tears with an injury.
Hanne Desmet reacted angrily afterwards in the catacombs of Ahoy. “I was hit from behind by Schulting, to which I reacted with my arm to keep my balance. Then I get a penalty for an arm block myself. I really can’t believe it. It’s terribly unfair. I think anyone who knows anything about our sport knows that this is a very moronic decision. This is really ridiculous. I’m just being robbed of a world title here.”
Earlier this weekend, Hanne Desmet was also disqualified in the final of the 1,500 meters, in which she had finished second, and in the quarter-finals of the 500 meters. So it became a tournament to quickly forget for the Belgian.
The 27-year-old Desmet won silver in the 1,000 meters in 2021 during the World Championships in Dordrecht, the Netherlands. A year later she won bronze at the same distance during the Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. Desmet is also the reigning and two-time European champion in the 1,000 meters.
