Beaten Winter Olympian's defiant act: Did skater Sjinkie Knegt give middle-finger salute?

Sjinkie Knegt (pictured left, next to Lim Hyojun of South Korea) appeared to be discreetly flipping the bird during a medal ceremony at the Winter Olympics after coming second. Photo / AP

A Dutch speed-skater has been accused of flipping the bird during a medal ceremony at the Winter Olympics after coming second in the men's 1500m final.

Sjinkie Knegt appeared to be discreetly giving the middle finger underneath his plush toy version of the Olympic mascot Soohorang which is given to medallists during the ceremonies, the MailOnline reported.

Knegt crossed the finish line approximately two blade lengths behind South Korea's Lim Hyo-jun in Pyeongchang on Saturday.

Knegt the current world record holder for men's 1500m speedskating, earned silver, while bronze went to Semen Elistratov from Russia.

"I went in front a little too early, with about five laps to go," Knegt said afterwards.

"I was not really prepared for that. Lim had a little more acceleration at the end. He was the best today."

Despite the humble comments and being seen patting Lim on his helmet after the two crossed the finish line, Knegt appeared to be making the rude hand-gesture during the ceremony.

Knegt later defended himself, saying it was pure co-incidence; "It looked like I put up the middle finger. It's not intended," he was quoited saying in Korea Times.

Lim Hyojun, left, of South Korea leads Sjinkie Knegt of the Netherlands. Photo / AP

"I just looked very bad in the photo, but it was not on purpose. I was just holding the medal."

However, it would not be the first time Knegt has let his middle-finger do the talking after narrowly missing out on gold.

After coming second in the men's 5000m relay final of the ISU European Short Track speed skating Championships in Dresden in 2014, Knegt gave two fingers up to the winner, Russia's Victor Ahn.

Knegt is seen giving two middle fingers up after losing the men's 5000m relay final during the European Championships in 2014. Photo / Getty Images

Officials disqualified Knegt for his post-race meltdown and stripped him of his silver in the relay and an individual bronze.