S. Korea`s Lee takes gold in 1,500-meter short-track event

(ATTN: ADDS comments by Lee in paras 4-5; RECASTS lead; TRIMS)
VANCOUVER, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- Lee Jung-su won the men's 1,500-meter short-track
final at the Winter Olympics on Saturday and brought South Korea its first gold
medal in Vancouver.
Two other South Korean gold favorites -- Sung Si-bak and Lee Ho-suk -- crashed
into each other in their final stretch toward the finish. The incident allowed
Apolo Anton Ohno and J.R. Celski of the United States to emerge from behind and
claim the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
Lee lunged ahead of Ohno with four laps remaining and kept his lead until
clocking a finish time of 2:17.611. Ohno, who has become the most decorated U.S.
Winter Olympian, finished in 2:17.976 while Celski posted 2:18.053.
Lee complained at a press conference that Ohno was "too aggressive" during the
race, adding he would have liked to see the podium swept by his team and that
Ohno used his arms too liberally.
"I entered the race expecting I would grab at least a bronze medal if I put my
best efforts into it, but I've won the title," he said.
South Korea hoped to achieve a podium sweep when the team entered the race at the
Pacific Coliseum with three of the seven competitors coming from the traditional
short-track powerhouse.
Lee Ho-suk edged ahead while turning the final corner, grazing against Sung and
prompting himself and his compatriot to spin out of the race. Lee was
disqualified while Sung finished last.
South Korea has made four top-10 finishes at five previous Olympic Games, a feat
that would have been impossible without short-track gold medals. The short track
squad has grabbed 29 medals, including 17 golds, out of 31 overall medals South
Korea has earned on the Olympic stage.
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