VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Charles Hamelin brought Canada two Olympic gold medals Friday in the final burst of activity in the always hectic sport of short-track skating.
American Apolo Anton Ohno suffered a controversial disqualification in the men's 500-meter race, Katherine Reutter won the first medal for a U.S. skater in 16 years with a silver in the 1,000-meter event, and Ohno then collected his eighth career medal in the relay.
In addition, China's Wang Meng became the first female skater to win six Olympic medals in short-track skating with a gold in the 1,000.
The two golds in the 500 and the relay boosted Canada's total to 10 for these Olympics, three more than it has ever won before.
Hamelin started it with a victory in the 500, where Ohno had to try a risky inside pass on the final turn in hopes of moving out of fourth place.
He put his hand on the back of Canadian Francois-Louis Tremblay, and although there was no force involved in the contact, Tremblay fell. Si-Bak Sung of South Korea, who was in second at the time, also went down.
Hamelin and Ohno crossed the line 1-2, but after looking at replays, judges disqualified Ohno.
"I don't know why they called me for disqualification," Ohno said. "I was in fourth the whole race. I'm not trying to push anybody down. But that's the head Canadian referee out there and we are on Canadian soil."
Further replays showed there was more contact between Hamelin and Sung than there was involving Ohno, but neither was disqualified. Sung got the silver medal and Tremblay the bronze.
Wang then won the 1,000-meter race and Reutter held off South Korean Seung-Hi Park for second. China swept the four women's races in short track, the first time that has happened in the Olympics.
Canada finished off the evening with a win in the 5,000-meter relay with South Korea getting the silver medal and Ohno making a late pass for third.
Ohno's eight career Winter Olympic medals are two more than any other American athlete has won.
