Well, what a day it was. Great bouts and fantastic Men's over 80 Kg final between Greece (the Goliath) and Korea (the David). David won, but there were some/one unhappy greek(s) that threw some bottles in and I am sure should have been detained by security, if security wasn't too shocked just looking at him and not doing anything.Yet, I honestly don't think there was controversy here. There was somewhere else. The Chinese favorite in the Women's over 67 Kg who had seemingly won against a British contender in a quarter-final, lost after appeal from the British. There was booing afterwards - and not during the announcement since it was made in English - and half of the Chinese left the event.
The Chinese appealed on a quarter-final loss in the Men's competition to Cuba, one Angel Valodia Matos of whom we will speak much more below. The appeal was not upheld and that would be it, if the Chinese translator at the Stadium had not just told the audience about the appeal not being approved, having forgotten to also say what appeal it was about. The audience thought it was the British appeal on the Chinese Women's win and was over-joyed. Not so much overjoy, after the translator was forced by the officials to repeat the WHOLE announcement and not just the end.
The disgrace came in one of the Men's bronze medal matches between the aforementioned Cuban and Arman Chilmanov from Kazakhstan. The latter gentleman can only be considered lucky since he lost his only match of the day... the only one that finished that is, since he then won the Repechage with an injury from his opponent and then the Bronze medal with ... well, here we go: the Cuban got slightly injured on his foot while he was ahead on points. Apparently, and according to Taekwondo rules, he has 1 minute to be assisted (in this case inside the "ring"). When the 1 minute finished, the referee believed that he was not ready and decided to end the bout, which would obviously give the victory to the lucky opponent. The issue is that the Cuban was literally just getting ready so if at all beyond the 1 minute, it would have been literally by 1 second or so. The Cuban and his coach started protesting straight away, and even before the bout had been called. What happened next can only be described as a very sad moment in these Olympics: the referee declares the bout finished and points to Chilmanov as the winner; Angel almost immediately kicks the referee in the face and although his coach tried to take him away (and only at that point tried to keep him away), tried kicking everyone around him; the judges came in and with a mysterious lack of security (I really don't know why there was so much in all the events, since when they were finally needed, nothing happened), Angel and his coach were taken from the "ring" side by WTF's secretary general - a gentleman, I may add, that was heroic enough to alone and just pointing his finger drive these two people (plus the Cuban "doctor) far from that ring (see picture); a GENTLEMAN that I have had the privilege of meeting in a flight to Seoul and who is unlucky for such unfortunate event but had thus the opportunity to show his strength of character.
The coach and the Cuban athlete waited in the sidelines for some time and delayed the programme. They finally left. Later in the evening, it was announced that it had been decided by the appropriate authorities, to ban this Cuban athlete and his coach for life from any WTF tournament or link. Furthermore, the athlete's records in the Olympics will be delete.
Although I believe the referee's decision was not correct, I absolutely agree with WTF's decision. Nobody can have these attitudes in any sporting event, let alone in the Olympics. The Cubans could have protested and even if they had lost, could have further appealed to higher instances. What they did - both the athlete and the coach - is not acceptable and was punished as all these behaviors should be.
All in all, a lot of drama, but also some great Taekwondo. V and I will be back.
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