Korean speed skaters begin hard training ahead of Olympics

CALGARY, Canada, Feb, 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's short track speed skaters are
sweating it out in their final training session at an ice rink in Calgary,
Canada, on Sunday, with the opening of the Vancouver Olympics just a few days
away.
The athletes came to the Canadian city last Thursday for pre-Olympic training in
a bid to tighten their stranglehold in the event. South Korea's short track speed
skating team has brought home all 17 gold medals since the sport became a full
time event at the Olympics in 1992. The country has claimed 31 Olympic skating
medals, including 29 from short track speed skating. The other two are from the
speed skating event.
"Each player is hitting better lap times," said head coach Kim Ki-hoon, who
collected three gold medals in the 1992 and 1994 Olympics, after clocking
players' times at the Olympic Oval track. "I think they are getting in good
condition."
The team is targeting the men's 1,000 meter and 1,500 meter events at the
upcoming Olympic Games that start on Friday, under Lee Ho-seok's leadership, who
finished runner-up in both events in Turin four yeas ago. His compatriot Ahn
Hyun-soo, who clinched three golds in Turin, failed to take the Vancouver berth
due to an injury.
Lee will be teamed up with Sung Si-bak, who beat Lee and Ahn at the national
championship competition last year to clinch the 5,000 meter relay event.
"Frankly speaking, I'm not in good condition, nor in bad," said Sung, who will
make his Olympic debut in Vancouver. "I'm trying to forget the pressure of
winning a gold medal."
South Korea's female skaters are gaining confidence as they begin their special
training session in Calgary. Although they are expected to be overpowered by
China, led by Wang Meng who earned a gold medal in the 500 meter four years ago,
they are gunning for the 3,000 meter relay event, in which South Korea has won
gold for five consecutive times.
"All athletes are in peak condition and skating with their best records," said
Kim Min-jung, who leads the relay team. "We will prove that South Korean short
track is the strongest in the world."
The delegation will head to Vancouver on Wednesday and have its first match on
Sunday.
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