Lee to skate for 1st medal
By Baek Byung-yeul
Speed-skater Lee Seung-hoon
Amid terrorist warnings, hotel woes and stray dog worries, the first competitive action at the Sochi Winter Olympics was well underway Friday (KST), hours before the opening ceremony.
Korea is aiming for a historic medal haul in what it considers a build-up to the 2018 PyeongChang Games. It remains to be seen whether speed-skater Lee Seung-hoon will be able to bring home the first medal in the men’s 5,000 meters on Saturday night.
The 25-year-old had his breakthrough in the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, taking the silver in the 5,000 meters and the gold in the 10,000 meters. Lee is hoping to win as many as three medals in Sochi, including the men’s team pursuit.
His competition in these events is expected to come from a trio of Dutch skaters in Bob de Jong, Jorrit Bergsma and Sven Kramer, who won the 5,000-meter gold in 2010.
Lee’s 10,000-meter gold in Vancouver was assisted by luck as Kramer finished a full four seconds faster than him, but was disqualified for changing lanes incorrectly.
The competitive Lee says he is eager to defeat Kramer on his own merits. The men’s 1,000-meter event begins on Feb. 18, followed by the team pursuit on Feb. 22.
"The race will depend on who comes in with the better time. Unlike when I was in Vancouver, I entered this Olympics with expectations and I do feel the burden of getting Korea off to a good start. However, I think I will be able to enjoy myself and display the best of my abilities out there,’’ Lee told Korean reporters after training at the Adler Arena.
"Honestly, I don’t think the ice surface of the Alder Arena is particularly good. I have competed at better venues. But that would be no excuse for a disappointing performance because the conditions are equal for everybody.’’
There will be 98 gold medals won over 16 days of competition in Sochi, with nearly 2,900 athletes from 87 nations competing. Korea has sent a record 71 athletes to Sochi, who will be competing in every sport except ice hockey. The goal is to win at least four gold medals with speed-skaters Lee Sang-hwa and Mo Tae-bum, teenage short-track prodigy Shim Suk-hee and figure-skating megastar Kim Yu-na considered as surefire candidates.