It has been confirmed that the Korean Skating Federation separated from the national team Sim Seok-hee (24, Seoul City Hall), who was embroiled in a controversy that he demeaned his national teammate and intentionally attempted to collide during the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.



An ice skating federation official said in a phone call with a press on the 11th, "After consulting with the national team players and coaches including Shim Suk-hee, we have concluded that it is difficult to train together in the current atmosphere." "Separation for psychological stability of athletes" As a measure, Shim Seok-hee came out of the Jincheon Athletes' Village."



The official added, "From next week, the International Skating Union (ISU) Short Track World Cup Series will start.



The Ice Skating Federation Performance Improvement Committee also held a meeting today and decided on Shim Suk-hee ▲ excluding the national team reinforcement training ▲ suspending participation in the 1st~4th World Cup series ▲ Investigating the 'intentional collision controversy' through the formation of an investigation committee.



The short track team is scheduled to depart on the 17th to participate in the first round of the 2021-2022 International Skating Union (ISU) World Cup to be held in Beijing, China from the 21st to the 24th.



In the World Cup, not only individual events but also team events (relay) are held, so Shim Suk-hee was excluded from the list because it was difficult for Shim Suk-hee to play with her teammates in the current atmosphere.



As it is essential for the national team to normalize in preparation for the Olympics, the Ice Skating Federation is planning to set up an investigation committee as soon as possible to look into the facts of the incident.



The controversy arose when the contents of the 'attorney's opinion' submitted to the court by former national team coach Cho Jae-beom, who was handed over to trial for three years of sexual crimes against Shim Suk-hee, were revealed through a media outlet.



Cho, who was charged with violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Adolescents, was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison in the first trial in January of this year.



The 'Attorney's Opinion' contains private text messages believed to have been exchanged between Shim Suk-hee and the national team coach A during the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.



The content of the message contained profanity towards the short track national team members Choi Min-jung (23, Seongnam City Hall) and Kim A-rang (26, Goyang City Hall), and about Choi Min-jung, "If it doesn't seem like it, then we should make a female Bradbury". .



Steven Bradbury, an Australian short track speed skater who won the gold medal in the men's 1,000m short track at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. 4 people from the United States) got tangled and fell and won the gold medal with a fisherman's wit.



However, there was a clash between Shim Seok-hee and Choi Min-jeong in the women's 1,000m short track track at the Pyeongchang Olympics held on February 22, 2018.



In the process of Choi Min-jung hitting the outside on the last lap, she and Shim Suk-hee, who was running ahead, slipped and fell near a corner.



This raised suspicions that the phrase "I will make a female Bradbury" meant an intentional clash.



But Bradbury could be interpreted differently as he was the gold medalist in the end.



It has not been confirmed whether it was intentional or not.



An ice skating federation official explained, "No details have been decided yet. Once an investigation committee is formed, we will review the scope of what information will be investigated."



Meanwhile, the short track national team has been training at the Jincheon Athletes' Village since last July.



When the controversy began, Choi Min-jung was out of the Jincheon Athlete's Village to participate in the 2021 Lucerne Winter Universiade delegation contest, so it is known that the training route with Shim Suk-hee did not overlap.



Shim Seok-hee also apologized to the coaching staff of the national team, including Kim A-rang and Choi Min-jeong, who were named in the contents of the leaked message while announcing a statement through her agency.



Shim Seok-hee said, "I sincerely apologize for disappointing and hurting many people due to my immature attitude and words and actions." . 



(Photo = Yonhap News)