ERZURUM – Today, January 30th, the short track speed skating competition came to an end with the finals of the relay and the 1,000m.
Women’s 1,000m final
The women’s 1,000m final was an Asian clash with two Koreans, two Chinese and one Japanese skater. Xue Kong crashed into the safety mats while Marie Yoshida (JPN) took advantage to pass Liu Yang (CHN) in third place. Dynamite skater Eun Byul Lee took another gold and left the silver to her compatriot Min Jung Kim.
Men’s 1,000m final
The men’s final was almost a Korean national championship with three Koreans and one Chinese skater vying for the gold. It was Tae Hoon Kim who in the end pocketed the gold medal, followed by Chinese Sui Baoku taking silver and leaving bronze to Deoung Il Kim.
Women’s 3,000m relay
Traditionally the short track event at the WU ends with the team relay. In the women’s 3,000m relay, the Hungarian team brought some Olympic experience as the team ended 5th at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. One of the skaters, Bernadett Heidum recently ended 2nd at the 2011 European Championships.
With the Hungarians and also the Canadians going for the gold it proved to be an interesting race against the Korean and Chinese powerhouses. However, the Asians were no match. Team Korea pocketed the gold, China silver and Hungary bronze. Canada finished fourth.
Men’s 5,000m relay
In the men’s 5,000 team relay it were the Canadians and the French who faced the Koreans and Chinese. In a dramatic race one of the Korean skaters fell and put the team out of the race. Team China took the lead and never looked back so a battle between Canada and France ended with the new continent beating the old. Gold for China, silver for Canada and bronze for France.
C. Pierre, FISU Press Officer
The battle between the French and the Canadians for second place
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