Filipino speed skater Julian Macaraeg sustained an injury on his left foot while competing for the final standings of the 2021 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Dordrecht, Netherlands.
Per Philippine Skating Union (PHSU), Macaraeg was taken out of the skating rink while competing in the 1000-meter event heat due to his injury.
"We pray for your speedy recovery Julian. Still a massive congratulations for competing in the World Championships! #LabanPilipinas," PHSU disclosed on its Facebook page Sunday night, March 7.
For the overall classification, Macaraeg sits at No. 42, which is two spots away from the bottom of 44-player field.
The 17-year-old Macaraeg ranked 27th and 32nd in the time analysis of 1,500m and 500m events, respectively. Still in the same categories, he respectively placed 35th and 39th in the tournament rankings.
The next day, March 6, Macaraeg still competed for the ranking finals and led his respective heats in the 1,500m and 500m events. PHSU also posted the highlight clip on its Facebook page.
Macaraeg is the lone Filipino and one of only two athletes from tropical countries in the field alongside India’s Akash Aradhya. He is also the first Filipino short track speed skater to compete in the 2020 Lausanne Winter Youth Olympics.
Meanwhile, Charles Hamelin of Canada, Shaoang Liu of Hungary and Semen Elistratov of Russia topped the overall classification of the tournament.
Hamelin, a veteran in the sport, also ruled the 1,500-meter event while Liu dominated the 500-meter event. The final round of the 1000-meter event is still ongoing.