By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
South Korean skaters will be hoping to make it a golden day on Sunday at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
The Asian nation, which has surprised many with three gold medals, fifth-best at the Games, is expected to add to its gold rush in short track and speed skating, in which three gold medals are up for grabs.
The South Korean men's short-track team, which already claimed a 1,500-meter gold medal by Lee Jung-su, will field its mighty triumvirate - Lee Ho-suk, Sung Si-bak and Jung-su -- in the 1,000 meters.
Since the sport became the official event at the Albertville Olympics in 1992, South Korea has been the nation to beat, topping the distance four times in five occasions.
If not for a collision between Ho-suk and Si-bak in the last lap of the 1,500-meter final, they would have swept the medals in the event.
In Thursday's preliminary round, the trio advanced to the quarterfinals, winning each of the heats and raising hopes of a gold medal.
"Although we had a heartbreaking moment in the first event, the athletes have been resolute to keep Korea's billing as the short track heavyweight intact,'' a Korea Skating Union (KSU) official said.
American Apolo Anton Ohno, who has collected two medals in the 1,000 at the Winter Olympics - silver in 2002 and bronze in 2006 - is seen as the biggest threat to the Korean team's quest for gold.
The women's squad, however, disappointingly failed to produce a finalist in the 500 meters.
The women's team will look to resurrect its damaged reputation in the 1,500 meters.
Although the current squad is not as competitive as past Olympic teams, Korean short trackers are better positioned to stand atop the podium in the 1,500 than in any of the other events in which they will compete.
China's Wang Meng, the winner of the 500, and host Canadians are favored to win, but Cho Hae-ri, Lee Eun-byul and Park Seung-hi have set their eyes on pulling off an upset at the Pacific Coliseum.
The men's and women's races are scheduled to begin at 10:45 a.m. Sunday (KST).
In speed skating, double-medalist Mo Tae-bum will challenge for his third medal of the quadrennial sports contest.
The 21-year-old became the nation's first athlete to take two medals in a sport other than short-track speed skating at the Winter Games after winning gold in the men's 500 and silver in the 1,000.
"I'm anxious to win a medal in the 1,500-meter event and it doesn't seem impossible," said Mo, whose fame has been skyrocketing in Korea.
"If I win one of each medal - gold, silver and bronze - I'll cry. I'm ready to cry, and fall to my knees."
The 1,500-meter race starts at 9:15 a.m. Sunday.
ksw@koreatimes.co.kr
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