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2012 London Olympics
Photo: DPA

Bronze medal confusion over computer failure

Published: 11 Aug 12 12:20 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/sport/20120811-44295.html

German hammer thrower Betty Heidler nearly lost out on a bronze medal on Friday evening due to a computer failure. Judges re-measured her throw by hand after some confusion and heated protest from both the German and Chinese teams.

A computer failure during the transmission of the measurements meant that 28-year-old Heidler’s fifth and longest throw was not correctly recorded on the scoreboard by Olympic judges.

The world record holder from Frankfurt looked on in despair as her fifth throw – which was later measured as 77.13 metres - was officially announced as 72.34 metres, earning her eighth place in the medal table.

After a long wait and indignant protests from the German team, during which Heidler argued audibly with the judges, the throw was re-measured by hand using camera footage and Heidler was awarded bronze.

Judges rejected protests from Chinese hammer thrower Zhang Wenxiu, who slipped into fourth place after initially having been awarded the bronze medal.

“I have to say it’s a scandal that everyone saw it and still the wrong measurement appeared on the scoreboard,” German Chef de Mission Michael Vesper told the ARD television channel, wrote Focus magazine on Saturday.

“When Betty Heidler said that she had thrown further the competition continued and the facts were not clarified first. It’s completely incomprehensible,” he added

Heidler, however, does not want to dwell on the judges’ mistake and is satisfied with the final result. “All that doesn’t matter anymore. I’m happy,” she told ARD.

DPA/The Local/jlb

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

13:54 August 11, 2012 by rajkshan
THANK GOD the Olymp is taking place in UK. If one had gone thru the whole show, there had been LOTS N LOTS of mistakes that have happened. If this would have happened in Germany or any third world countries, the UK press would have had LOTS of FUNS mocking at them. PITY.
21:25 August 11, 2012 by Berlin fuer alles
She is kinda cute too. Not often you can say that about a hammer thrower.
02:29 August 12, 2012 by antistar
Rajkshan, it's the Olympics. Like the competitors, the judges come from all over the world. It's not the fault of the organizers if mistakes are made, but the IOC.
08:10 August 14, 2012 by Morseman
Rajkshan: The equipment and their operating crew were Swiss...
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