Kazakhstan's olympian finish delights fans worldwide
Despite trailing in last place for most of the race, Azhgaliev capitalized on his competitors' mistakes in the final moments, seizing victory in a dramatic finish.
The race result was determined by a photo finish, with Italian skater Pietro Sighel finishing backward, making the conclusion of the race one of the standout moments of the day.
"Wow! Have you ever seen a photo finish like this? Abzal Azhgaliyev edged out a spinning Pietro Sighel for first place," noted the International Olympic Committee press office.
The video of the finish quickly went viral, garnering 677,000 views within a few hours and sparking excitement among fans.
"Such a close call";"The blades were so close to those fingers";"Looks like a NASCAR finale";"Sighel – the king of the spin, haha";"Now that’s a race!" – fans commented under the video.
It’s also worth noting that alongside Abzal Azhgaliev, another Kazakh athlete, Denis Nikisha, also advanced to the quarter-finals in the 500-meter short track event. Both athletes will continue their medal chase in the night session from February 18 to 19.
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