The Canadian hockey player who refused to wear her silver medal has apologised for her ’emotional’ behaviour following their Olympic finals loss to arch rival Team USA.
Defenseman Jocelyne Larocque apologised today for taking off the medal almost immediately after it was placed around her neck at the ceremony in Pyeongchang.
Ms Larocque, a two-time Olympian, then held onto the medal during the medal ceremony following the 3-2 shootout US victory over Canada on Thursday.
Dejected: Jocelyne Larocque (middle) immediately took off her silver medal after she was awarded it. Canada lost the gold to the USA in a nail-biting shootout on Thursday
Canada had were reigning Olympic champions of women’s hockey, having won the last four Olympic games.
The USA win also ended the team’s 20-year Olympic losing streak.
She issued a statement through Team Canada apologizing to the IOC, International Ice Hockey Federation, the Pyeongchang Olympic Organizing Committee, the Canadian Olympic Committee, Hockey Canada and her teammates and fans.
She said she meant no disrespect but her emotions took over.
‘Please understand this was a moment in time that I truly wish I could take back,’ said Ms Larocque, 29.
‘I take seriously being a role model to young girls and representing our country. My actions did not demonstrate the values our team, myself and my family live and for that I am truly sorry.’
The general manager of Canada’s national team programmes, Melody Davidson, agreed that Ms Larocque did not mean to be disrespectful.
She said: ‘Emotions run high at the Olympic Games, and never more so than in a gold-medal game, but at all times we expect our program to act professionally and demonstrate sound sportsmanship. I would like to congratulate the United States on their victory.’
Unimpressed: Larocque only wore the silver medal for seconds before taking it off her neck
The Canadian team was crying on the ice after their heartbreaking loss to the USA. The women’s hockey team had dominated in the last four Olympics before ending their streak on Thursday night in a shootout
The United States celebrates after defeating Canada in a shootout to win women’s ice hockey
Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson (17), of the United States, celebrates scoring the winning goal
Larocque (left) is the only member of her team who refused to wear her medal. She reportedly was told to put the medal on by an official with the hockey’s governing body
People took to Twitter to talk about Larocque refusing to wear her silver medal. One person said it was ‘classless’
One person on twitter said she was being a ‘poor loser’ by taking her medal off
For more than half an hour, Larocque refused to put on her medal for anyone who asked her to, including her teammates.
American fans could be heard shouting: ‘Put your medal on.’
‘It’s just hard,’ Larocque said in her post-game interview. ‘You work so hard. We wanted gold but didn’t get it.’
People on social media were calling her refusal to wear her medal ‘classless’.
Another person said Larocque was being a ‘poor looser’ for immediately taking off her medal when it was given to her.
Larocque finally wore the medal after her post-game interview when an official from the hockey’s governing body said she needed to wear it, according to The Globe and Mail.
Another person said they were embarrassed that she represented Canada
People said Larocque was throwing a tantrum because her team was unable to win
Head down: Laroqcue didn’t wear her medal for more than half an hour after the game until an official with the hockey team told her she needed to put it on
Laroqcue held the medal in her hand during the awards ceremony after taking it off
Gigi Marvin (19), of the United States, scores a goal against Shannon Szabados (1), of Canada, in the shootout
Elated: Players of Team USA celebrated their gold-medal victory over Canada on Thursday. The team defeated the reigning hockey organization in a shootout
The official Twitter account for Canada’s hockey team said they were proud of how their athletes performed. But some people on Twitter criticized Larocque for her poor sportsmanship in refusing to wear hear silver medal
Goals from Haley Irwin and Marie-Philip Poulin in the second period looked to have sealed it for the Canadians and their fifth successive gold.
But a late US goal from Monique Lamoureux took the title match into sudden-death overtime at 2-2.
She netted the final to bring US gold at 3-2 in the shootout.
It was particularly glorious for captain Meghan Duggan who had settled for silver twice before.
Duggan, the captain, 30, was defeated against Canada in Vancouver and Sochi.
But last night she punched the air and held the Stars and Stripes in celebration as Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born in the USA’ rang around the arena.
One person supported Laroque’s decision to no wear the medal. They said she was ‘obviously raised to be a winner’
Heartbroken: Players from Team Canada consoled each other after their loss to the USA in the women’s ice hockey finals
Team USA’s Monique Lamoureux-Morando is seen here celebrating after she scored the goal that tied things up and sent the game into overtime
Team United States celebrates after scoring a goal in the third period against Canada
Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin celebrates after scoring a goal during the second period of the women’s gold medal hockey game
Haley Irwin of Canada celebrates with teammates after scoring a second period goal against the United States
Kelly Pannek (left), of the United States, and Marie-Philip Poulin (right), of Canada, collide during the first period
Talking about how the gold medal had eluded her twice before, she said: ‘It is so sweet right now that I can’t think about anything but pride and excitement.
‘You come to the Olympics and you set out to win a gold medal.
‘But when you take a step back and think about who you are representing.
‘Everyone behind you back home; people that you don’t even know, veterans, Americans and they love that you are representing them.
‘There is so much pride in that and that is what it is about.
‘We are standing there on the world stage, representing our country and waving our flags high.
‘I am so proud to be an American. It was a great moment listening to the anthem.’
The two countries have been fighting for international supremacy since America last claimed gold in 1988.
The US team celebrates scoring a goal, as a fan cheers them on, at the Gangneung Hockey Centre in South Korea
USA’s Monique Lamoureux-Morando (center) celebrates scoring against Canada’s goalie, Shannon Szabados (left), in the women’s gold medal ice hockey match
Lamoureux-Morando (left), #7 of the US, scores a goal against Szabados (right), #1 of Canada, in the third period
America has been the bookies’ favorites despite being beaten by the Canadians in a preliminary Pyeongchang match en route to the final.
America had dominated the overtime but almost lost the final when Meghan Keller was sent to the sidelines for a two minute punishment for an illegal hit with less than one minute and 35 seconds remaining.
With the US a player down, Canada stormed forward but the Americans held in for overtime… and golden glory.
The US has 42 shots against Canada’s 31 in the match.
Several of the Canadian players openly wept at their defeat as captain Marie-Philip Poulin walked among them consoling and hugging them.
Meanwhile, there were tears of joy from the US.
Today show co-anchor Hoda Kotb cheers during the Women’s Gold Medal Game between Canada and the United States
Marie-Philip Poulin (left), #29 of Canada, collides with Brianna Decker (right), #14 of the United States, in the third period
Decker (right) lies on the ice after a collision in the third period against Canada’s Poulin (left) during the Women’s Gold Medal Game
Sidney Morin, #23 of the United States, celebrates after a first period goal by Hilary Knight, #21 (not pictured), against Canada