Silenced Ringer Costs Skater a Shot at Olympic Glory

↵↵While Germany is No. 2 in the overall medal count at the Vancouver Olympics, they’ve got a pair of speed skating stories that involve some seriously bad luck. First, we’ve got Patrick Beckert (pictured above), who made it all the way to Vancouver to compete in 1,000-meter speed skating as a substitute, but, well ... he was a little slow out of the blocks before the race:↵

↵↵⇥At the crucial moment the 19-year-old couldn’t be contacted because his mobile was switched off!↵⇥↵⇥Team boss Helge Jasch said: “When we got in touch with him he only had 15 minutes left to get to the hall. It wasn’t possible.”↵⇥

↵⇥↵⇥Beckert was substitute number four. The three other athletes were also unreachable.↵⇥

↵↵Was this a case of the doctors drinking while on call or something? Four substitutes weren’t reachable? Were they out partying like Jon Montgomery?
↵↵Hey, at least Beckert isn’t the one who has finished fourth in a major event for the 15th time.↵

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