Kim Boutin

Boutin participated as part of Canada's team at the 2018 Winter Olympics.[6][7] She came in 4th in the Women's 500 m, but following the judge's disqualification of South Korean Choi Min-jeong who finished 2nd in a photo finish, Boutin was awarded the bronze. Reports initially suggested the disqualification was due to contact with race winner Arianna Fontana, but were later stated to be due to an earlier contact with Boutin.[8] The following day, it was announced that Boutin had been receiving negative comments from South Koreans, including reports of death threats.[9] The Canadian Olympic Committee took the threats very seriously and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were investigating the incidents. It was an emotional and painful experience for the skater and, upon receiving her medal, she was photographed in tears. She said later of it all that "it was pretty tough. I'm a sensitive person."[10]

Boutin started in the 1,500 m heats with the threats still looming over her. She said that "of course, it scared me, and just after my warm-up, I cried. I cried a lot, because I was scared. But I have a pretty awesome team behind me." She would put that fear behind her in the final of the 1,500 m when she skated out in front and led the pack until the second last lap when she was passed by Choi, but hung on for the bronze medal.[11][12][10] This was her second individual medal of the games and made her the first female Canadian short track speed skater to win two individual medals in a single Olympics.[10] Boutin would go on to win silver in the 1,000m race a few days later, earning a medal in all three individual distances.[13] The Canadian team made the relay finals but after being tripped up by the Korean team and the chaos that followed the Canadian women finished off the Olympic relay podium for the first time ever. As a result of her three individual short track medals, the first time ever by a Canadian female short track speed skater, Boutin was named the flag bearer for the closing ceremonies.[14]