Sore loser speed skater flips off rival

A Dutch speed skater has shown the world how not to lose with dignity.

Sjinkie Knegt aimed both middle fingers at rival Viktor Ahn's back after he was defeated at the European short track speed skating championships on Sunday.

The two-finger salute overshadowed the celebrations of Ahn and his team, who scored the gold medal in the men's 5000m relay in Dresden, Germany.

Knegt's conduct came with a hefty penalty: his entire team was disqualified and he was stripped of an individual bronze medal.

"It's not the smartest thing I've ever done," the 24-year-old sore loser acknowledged a day after the event, reports RTL News.

He apologised for his bad behaviour, blaming it on "emotion and frustration".

The European championship is the last major tournament before the start of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, where Knegt and Ahn will again go head-to-head in February.