By Shin Na-yun
Female fencer Shin A-lam lost her bid for an epee gold medal following a controversial semifinal loss to Germany’s Britta Heidemann, in what many see as one of the most doubtful judgments in the ongoing 2012 London Olympic Games.
Shin tied 5-5 with defending Olympic champion Heidemann at the close of the regular competition and they had to compete one extra minute. The German fencer appeared to edge Shin 6-5 with a winning hit with one second remaining on the clock, however the clock appeared to be locked as Shin fended off Heidemann’s attack three times.
Most Koreans as well as many foreigners were bewildered at Shin becoming the victim of human error and a malfunctioning timing device. There were a large number of comments denouncing the strange judgment on the Internet from angry bloggers.
Comments included a suggestion of boycotting the remainder of the Olympics. "The Olympic spirit was missing in London. Boycotting the Olympics is the only solution to save the Olympic Spirit." And "What’s going on swimming, judo and now fencing. Isn’t this enough? It is unfair."
Some Internet users expressed their anger by photoshopping Heidemann's picture into adult magazine Playboy.