500 metres, Women

With the overwhelming favorite Wang Meng (defending World and Olympic Champion, winner of three of the season’s four World Cups) unable to complete because of injury, it was felt that one of her compatriots Fan Kexin (2011 World Champion), Li Jianrou (2012 World champion) or Liu Qiuhong would take the crown. Unfortunately for the Chinese all three competed in the same semi-final and, to add to the drama, Fan fell and was eliminated. The surprising winner of that semi-final was Elise Christie (UK) ahead of Li. In the first of the semi-finals Park Seung-Hui (South Korea) finished ahead of 2010 bronze medallist Arianna Fontana (Italy), both qualifying comfortably.

The final was effectively over in the first lap when Christie tried a kamikaze maneuver on the inside, resulting in a crash with Fontana and Park. Li, who was in the lead at the time and the only skater left standing, effectively performed an exhibition to win the gold. Although Christie got up to cross the line second, she was unsurprisingly disqualified. Fontana finished in the silver medal position with Park the bronze. Christie later noted she was heavily attacked on Twitter and Facebook by South Koreans who blamed her for ruining Park’s chances.