Boycotts, record-breaking performances, doping scandals mark Beijing 2022

By Doga Kirmizioglu

ANKARA (AA) - The 2022 Beijing Winter Games will be remembered with the boycott, record-breaking performances and doping scandals.

The 2022 Olympics in the Chinese capital saw a diplomatic boycott of many Western nations.

US, UK, Australia and Canada imposed a diplomatic boycott each for concerns about China's human rights record.

- 48 athletes go into quarantine due to COVID-19

The spectators from foreign countries were not permitted to watch the game due to COVID-19, while a small number of Chinese citizens were allowed to attend the game.

According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), a total of 48 athletes went into quarantine due to the pandemic during the Games.

- Norway top medal table

After at least two weeks on ice and snow, Norway bagged 37 Olympic medals, including 16 gold, ending the Games with the most gold medals.

The Scandinavian country also claimed eight silver and 13 bronze.

Second-place Germany won 27 medals in total with 12 gold medals.

Having bagged nine golds, the 2022 hosts China came third on the medal table.

China claimed four silver and two bronze medals.

- Nils van der Poel and Suzanne Schulting set Olympic records in speed skating

Fans witnessed the record-breaking performances in speed skating.
Suzanne Schulting of the Netherlands bagged a gold medal in the Olympic women's 1,000 meters short track speed skating.

She broke the Olympic and world records in the quarterfinals with a time of one minute and 26. 514 seconds.

Having finished the race at 6:08.84, Swedish speed skater Nils van der Poel also set the Olympic record in the 5,000-meter race while setting his own world record in the 10,000-meter race, clocking at 12:30.74 to win the gold.

In addition, speed skater Ireen Wust from the Netherlands broke the Olympic record in the women's 1500m final to bag her 13th Olympic medal, including six golds.

- Kamila Valieva fails drug test but allowed to compete

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva competed amid a doping scandal.

Valieva, 15, tested positive for trimetazidine, a metabolic agent that helps with the treatment of angina and vertigo, from a sample collected during the Russian Figure Skating Championships in St. Petersburg on Dec. 25.

The substance is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

But, The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) cleared Valieva to take place at the Olympics, saying that she is considered a "protected person" -- in other words, a minor -- under the World Anti-Doping Code.

Amid doping conversation, Valieva failed to win a medal in the women's individual figure skating eve and completed in fourth place with 224.09 points in a total after falling twice during the free skate.

- Two athletes suspended from Games after testing positive for doping

Ukrainian cross-country skier Valentyna Kaminska and Iranian Alpine skier Hossein Saveh Shemshaki each has tested positive for doping and suspended from all competitions.