ID :
106533
Sun, 02/14/2010 - 16:38
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/106533
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S. Korea takes gold, silver but misses more on last-minute collision
By Tony Chang
(ATTN: COMBINES earlier Olympic stories)
SEOUL/VANCOUVER, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea took away a gold and a silver on
the second day of the Vancouver Winter Olympics but missed out on securing
additional medals following a last- minute collision by two competing compatriot
skaters.
Lee Seung-hoon kicked off South Korea's medal hunt by clinching a silver at the
men's 5,000-meter speed skating competition on Saturday, clocking in at 6:16.95
after Dutch world champion Sven Kramer. The 22-year-old South Korean became
Asia's first to win a medal in a long-distance Olympic skating event.
The feat by the 22-year-old from the Korea National Sport University surprised
many as it came just less than a year after deciding to switch from the
short-track to speed skating event. Last year, Lee moved to speed skating after
failing to make the national short-track squad.
Meanwhile in the 1,500-meter short track event, Lee Jung-su of South Korea won a
gold medal, bringing to his country its first gold medal in Vancouver.
The country's feat, however, was partly tarnished by an incident where two other
South Korean gold favorites competing in the same event -- Sung Si-bak and Lee
Ho-suk -- crashed into each other in their final stretch toward the finish.
Without the crash, South Korea looked set to have had won all three medals.
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.
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.
During a press conference, the gold medalist complained 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.
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.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
(ATTN: COMBINES earlier Olympic stories)
SEOUL/VANCOUVER, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea took away a gold and a silver on
the second day of the Vancouver Winter Olympics but missed out on securing
additional medals following a last- minute collision by two competing compatriot
skaters.
Lee Seung-hoon kicked off South Korea's medal hunt by clinching a silver at the
men's 5,000-meter speed skating competition on Saturday, clocking in at 6:16.95
after Dutch world champion Sven Kramer. The 22-year-old South Korean became
Asia's first to win a medal in a long-distance Olympic skating event.
The feat by the 22-year-old from the Korea National Sport University surprised
many as it came just less than a year after deciding to switch from the
short-track to speed skating event. Last year, Lee moved to speed skating after
failing to make the national short-track squad.
Meanwhile in the 1,500-meter short track event, Lee Jung-su of South Korea won a
gold medal, bringing to his country its first gold medal in Vancouver.
The country's feat, however, was partly tarnished by an incident where two other
South Korean gold favorites competing in the same event -- Sung Si-bak and Lee
Ho-suk -- crashed into each other in their final stretch toward the finish.
Without the crash, South Korea looked set to have had won all three medals.
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.
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.
During a press conference, the gold medalist complained 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.
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.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
