By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Korean speed skater Lee Kyu-hyuk has made great achievements in his career, including two gold medals at the 2003 Aomori Asian Winter Games and a gold medal at the 2010 Ohibiro World Championships.
But fortune appears not to have been on his side this time as Lee failed to win a medal again at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
For the past 20 years, the speed skater born in 1978 has competed in the event five times at the Olympics but has never stood on the podium.
"Before competing in the 500-meter race, I kind of sensed that I would not make it," Lee said, holding back tears, during a press conference held at the Hyatt Hotel in Vancouver, Saturday. "It was sad to race in what I could not win."
He came in 15th in the 500-meter race and placed ninth in the 1,000 meter.
Lee confessed that he did not sleep well before the race despite efforts to adjust himself to the time difference between Korea and Canada.
"Speed skaters with impressive records were lined up and, besides, the 500-meter race is short and very delicate," he said. "As it was the Olympics, I personally felt burdened."
Lee said he has no plans to participate in the Olympic Games for a sixth time and will take time to pull himself together.
"Actually, I wanted to put on a happy face. Even though I failed, my juniors showed excellent performances, which is great news for the nation's speed skating," he said. "But I admit that I am sad. I want to have some time to be alone."
The five-time Olympian also indicated that this would be his last run.
"I would like to support other speed skaters as a senior, not as a teammate, to help them make great achievements and win," he said. "I appreciate the many people who stood behind me and I hope that they continue to encourage the other speed skaters."
Lee, who specializes in the 500- and 1,000-meter races made his debut in the International Skating Union at the age of 13.
He won three gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze in the World Championships between 2007 and 2010.
He also won four gold medals and two silvers in the Asian Winter Games between 1999 and 2007.
In the 1997 Winter Universiade held in Muju-Jeonju, Korea, he won a silver medal in the 500-meter race and a bronze medal in the 1,500-meter distance.
President Lee Myung-bak praised Lee for his devotion to the sport despite not bringing home a medal. President Lee said, ``The Korean people will long remember him,'' in an apparent reference to his role in motivating his junior speed skaters to win medals at the Vancouver Olympics.
Lee has been regarded as a pioneer in the development of speed skating in Korea. Aside from the Olympics, domestic competitions in speed skating get little media and public attention.