Jocelyne Larocque has apologized for taking off her silver medal after her Canadian women's ice hockey team lost to the United States at the Winter Olympics this week.
The U.S. hockey team beat the defending Olympic champions for the gold medal 3-2 in a dramatic shootout after regulation, USA Today reported. The Americans had lost to Canada in three of the past four Olympic finals.
But during the medal ceremonies, Larocque took off her silver medal in disappointment, according to CBC News. The move was met with a chorus of complaints on social media.
Larocque issued a statement Friday apologizing for taking the medial off.
"In the moment, I was disappointed with the outcome of the game, and my emotions got the better of me," she said in the statement. "I meant no disrespect – it has been an honor to represent my country and win a medal for Canada . . . My actions did not demonstrate the values our team, myself and my family live and for that I am truly sorry."
Melody Davidson, the Canadian women's team general manager, issued a statement as well, saying that Larocque was "remorseful" for removing the medal.
"She is very remorseful and takes responsibility for her error," Davidson in her statement, according to CBC News. "Emotions run high at the Olympic Games, and never more so than in a gold-medal game, but at all times we expect our program to act professionally and demonstrate sound sportsmanship."