South Koreans rally around humiliated long-tracker

Noh Seon-Yeong’s tears have mobilized the hosts of the Pyeongchang Olympics. Noh, a long-track speedskater, cried in the infield of the Gangneung Oval Monday night after being humiliated by her teammates in the team pursuit. Kim BoReum and Park Ji Woo walked by their distraught teammate, unmoved, after abandoning her in an event that is defined by co-operation.

Koreans were so angered by the display that a petition was started on President Moon Jae-In’s website asking that Kim and Park be banned from the national team because “it is a clear national disgrace that such people with a personality problem are representing a country in the Olympics.” At one point Wednesday, that petition had 400,000 signatures.

Kim and Park skated away from their slower teammate in their quarterfinal heat Monday night. Noh finished alone, four seconds later.