Related News
Wang remains invincible on track
Source: Agencies |
February 19, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FAVORITE Wang Meng of China enhanced her invincible reputation when she retained her Olympic women's 500 meters short-track speedskating title in Vancouver on Wednesday.
Canada's Marianne St Gelais drew deafening cheers from the home crowd as she celebrated her 20th birthday with a silver medal and Italy's Arianna Fontana picked up the bronze.
"I'm still the rookie but I just made a name for myself," a tearful St Gelais told reporters after cheering teammates greeted her with a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday."
Starting from the favored inside position, Wang led from the start and crossed the line with several meters of daylight between her and the rest of the field, having taken her foot off the gas before the finish line when she knew she had won.
Rivals had said before the competition that it would take a mistake from Wang for anyone else to take gold, and were really just fighting for the two other medals. They were right.
It looked too easy for the distance's four-time world champion, although she seemed to show signs of nerves when she was cautioned for a false start after the race had already been re-started once following a first-turn crash.
"My coach and I worked on a strategy that I would concentrate on my start and not worry too much about being perfect for the entire race, I'm ecstatic," Wang said after draping a Chinese flag over her for a lap of honor.
It was China's second gold medal in Vancouver following Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo's pairs title on Monday.
While Wang kowtowed on the ice to thank her coach and teammates, a beaming St Gelais, who got the better of more fancied compatriot Kalyna Roberge in their semifinal, lapped up the screams of joy from the home fans.
The raucous atmosphere at the packed Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver was in stark contrast to the previous day's more demure mood for the men's figure skating in the same arena.
There must be some sore throats after six and a half minutes of ear-splitting noise during Canada's men's 5,000-meter relay semifinal earlier in the evening.
They led for much of the race before being pipped by the tip of a blade at the finish by China but both reached the February 26 final.
The United States and South Korea also qualified to ensure the event's "big four" will contest the medals.
They will be joined by France, which advanced after Italy was disqualified for impeding the French and causing a crash which made them lose a lot of time in a chaotic race.
Canada's Marianne St Gelais drew deafening cheers from the home crowd as she celebrated her 20th birthday with a silver medal and Italy's Arianna Fontana picked up the bronze.
"I'm still the rookie but I just made a name for myself," a tearful St Gelais told reporters after cheering teammates greeted her with a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday."
Starting from the favored inside position, Wang led from the start and crossed the line with several meters of daylight between her and the rest of the field, having taken her foot off the gas before the finish line when she knew she had won.
Rivals had said before the competition that it would take a mistake from Wang for anyone else to take gold, and were really just fighting for the two other medals. They were right.
It looked too easy for the distance's four-time world champion, although she seemed to show signs of nerves when she was cautioned for a false start after the race had already been re-started once following a first-turn crash.
"My coach and I worked on a strategy that I would concentrate on my start and not worry too much about being perfect for the entire race, I'm ecstatic," Wang said after draping a Chinese flag over her for a lap of honor.
It was China's second gold medal in Vancouver following Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo's pairs title on Monday.
While Wang kowtowed on the ice to thank her coach and teammates, a beaming St Gelais, who got the better of more fancied compatriot Kalyna Roberge in their semifinal, lapped up the screams of joy from the home fans.
The raucous atmosphere at the packed Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver was in stark contrast to the previous day's more demure mood for the men's figure skating in the same arena.
There must be some sore throats after six and a half minutes of ear-splitting noise during Canada's men's 5,000-meter relay semifinal earlier in the evening.
They led for much of the race before being pipped by the tip of a blade at the finish by China but both reached the February 26 final.
The United States and South Korea also qualified to ensure the event's "big four" will contest the medals.
They will be joined by France, which advanced after Italy was disqualified for impeding the French and causing a crash which made them lose a lot of time in a chaotic race.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
