- The moment occurred in the women’s 200m freestyle semifinal
- Fans watching the match from home commented on the “creepy” situation
Swimming fans watching the Paris Olympics were left shocked by the bizarre ending to the women’s 200-metre freestyle semi-final.
American swimmer Claire Weinstein won the race in 1:55.24 on Sunday at the Paris La Défense Arena ahead of Czech star Barbora Seemanova and Canadian Mary-Sophie Harvey.
For those watching the spectacle on television, graphics showing how the athletes finished revealed the name of convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein.
Weinstein, who is currently hospitalized with Covid-19 and pneumonia in both lungs, was convicted in New York and Los Angeles for a series of sexual crimes and was serving a 23-year sentence on the East Coast of the United States.
In the New York case, he was found guilty of sexually assaulting former production assistant Miriam Haley and raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann.
However, those charges were overturned earlier this year after a state appeals judge ruled he did not receive a fair hearing.
A tentative new trial date has been set, with jury selection set to begin on Nov. 12, but his Los Angeles conviction for rape and sexual assault still stands.
Sports journalist Debbie Spillane posted the bizarre graphic to her X account on Monday, writing: “Creepy moment in swimming at #Paris2024.”
A graphic showing the result of one of the women’s 200m freestyle semi-finals at the Paris Games inadvertently displayed the name of convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein.
Czech swimmer Barbora Seemanova (pictured) finished second in the event, but the names of two of her rivals had some viewers scratching their heads when they appeared on television.
His followers were equally surprised.
“Oh my God!” one user responded.
“Even the first name fits the scenario,” said another.
“Oh dear,” posted a third.
All three swimmers mentioned in the graphic have qualified for the women’s 200m freestyle final at Paris La Defense Arena at 5.48am AEST on Tuesday.
The field includes Australian world record holder Ariarne Titmus and her main rival, stablemate Mollie O’Callaghan.
Titmus and O’Callaghan reached the final as the top two finishers.
Titmus narrowly won over O’Callaghan but dismissed any significance to the result.
Mollie O’Callaghan (left) and fellow Australian Ariarne Titmus (right) will compete for the title at the Paris La Defense Arena in the women’s 200m freestyle final.
“In a final you always want to be in the middle of the pool and get a good position,” he said.
‘But that was really the only plan for tonight, I tried to conserve as much as I could.’
Titmus clocked one minute 54.64 seconds, six-hundredths of a second faster than O’Callaghan, who was second.
Six weeks ago Titmus broke O’Callaghan’s world record in the event and the Paris final looms as a showdown race between the swimmers, both coached by Dean Boxall.
Titmus is looking to become the first swimmer to successfully defend the 200m and 400m freestyle titles at an Olympic Games.
