By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Song Kyung-taek won the first gold medal for South Korea Friday at the International Skating Union (ISU) World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Gangneung, Gangwon Province.
In the men's 1,500-meter race on the opening day of the event, the 24-year-old skater from Dankook University finished first in 2 minutes 18.916 seconds, beating American Apolo Anton Ohno, who was disqualified for a pushing foul after the race.
Compatriot Lee Ho-suk, who crossed the line third, took silver and the race's other American Charles Ryan Leveille became the bronze medallist.
In the final race, which featured three Korean short tracker skaters ― Lee Seung-hoon, who came in fourth, Lee and Song ― out of six skaters, Ohno took the lead with eight laps remaining and held it for five laps.
With three laps to go, Lee Seung-hoon powered into first place, while Ohno and the other two Koreans battled it out behind him.
In the final lap, Song and Ohno seemed to cross the finish line side by side, which required a computer system check, and it showed the Korean was ahead.
On the women's side, 17-year-old Yang Shin-young won a silver medal behind China's Wang Meng, who clocked 2 minutes 22.819 seconds.
Yang's time was 2 minute 22.904 seconds.
The world short track speed skating meet will last until Sunday.