He didn’t crash coming out of the gate, he didn’t even skate in the wrong lane, but it was still an Olympic-sized blunder for German speedskater Patrick Beckert.
Beckert could have competed in Wednesday’s 1,000-meter competition as the fourth alternate when two-time gold medalist Enrico Fabris of Italy withdrew from the race just an hour before it was scheduled to begin.
Officials tried to reach the first three alternates to no avail, then tried contacting Beckert, but his cell phone was turned off.
Beckert finally returned the calls about 17 minutes before the race but it was too late for him to make it to the Richmond Olympic Oval.
Helge Jasch, manager of the German speedskating team, has taken responsibility for the goof saying that he didn’t tell Beckert to report to the oval. He thought that the odds of the fourth alternate making it into the race were astronomical.
Not on this day. Always leave your cell phone on, it could cost you a gold medal of you don’t.
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