VANCOUVER - Four times champions South Korea learned they had been disqualified while they were skating a celebratory lap of honour on Wednesday to give China Olympic gold in the women’s short track 3,000 metres relay.

China’s （L-R） Sun Linlin, Wang Meng, Zhou Yang and Zhang Hui celebrate after finding out they had won the gold medal in the women’s 3000 metres relay short track speed skating final at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics February 24, 2010. [Photo/Xinhua]
 

Canada took the silver, with the United States picking up the bronze.

South Korea’s skaters had already started waving flags in joy after crossing the line ahead of the rest of the field but a lengthy referee review decided Kim Min-jung had impeded during an exchange push with just a few laps remaining.

Cheers turned to tears as the inconsolable South Koreans rushed past reporters without stopping to explain their mistake.

One of their coaches had banged a padded barrier in frustration when the referee told him of the decision.

China’s gold medallists （L） celebrate as members of South Korea’s team Cho Ha-ri and Lee Eun-byul （R） react to their disqualification after the women’s 3000 metres relay short track speed skating final at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics February 24, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]
 

"I was not surprised by the disqualification because collisions happen all the time in short track," Wang Meng, who cost China a medal in Turin four years ago when she was judged to have impeded, told reporters.

China stood on top of the podium with Zhang Hui sporting a big white plaster over a cut she picked up during the chaotic race where there were 16 skaters on the ice in one go.