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Russian Olympic Committee speed skater Daniil Aldoshkin is apologizing for flashing his middle fingers following the men’s team pursuit semifinals at the2022 Winter OlympicsTuesday.
After defeating Team USA and securing a spot in the gold medal race, Aldoshkin, 20 — who was racing alongside teammates Ruslan Zakharov and Sergey Trofimov — displayed the gesture in celebration.
The speed skater later made a public apology, assuring it wasn’t directed at anyone.
“I threw up my hands,” Aldoshkin said following the race,RT.comreported. “I have the first medal, the first Olympics. I didn’t mean anything like that. I’m sorry if this offended anyone.”
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Alexei Kravtsov, president of the Russian Skating Union, also released a statement apologizing for the speed skater’s actions, clarifying that it was simply an “outburst of emotion.”
“We talked with the athlete, he made a statement at a press conference. Emotions took over at the finish line, there was no subtext in this action,” he added. “We are sorry if someone differently perceived this situation and [it] offended someone. On behalf of the Russian Skating Union, we offer our official apologies.”
The ROC finished the event with a bronze medal, falling to Norway, who snagged the gold medal with a time of 3:38.08. Team USA — made up of Ethan Cepuran, Casey Dawson, Emery Lehman and Joey Mantia — claimed the bronze medal after defeating the Netherlands.
To learn more about Team USA, visitTeamUSA.org. Watch the Winter Olympics, now, and the Paralympics, beginning March 4, on NBC.
source: people.com
