Redemption song

Ahn, now with Russia, to clash against Korean skaters

By Kim Young-jin

For Koreans, the sight of Viktor Ahn on the Olympic podium is a familiar one. But if he wins this year, it could make for an awkward photo op.

That’s because the decorated short track speed skater, whose Korean name is Ahn Hyun-soo, will represent Russia, his adopted homeland, after switching allegiance for this year’s Games.

The defection of Ahn, 28, is one of the most interesting storylines at Sochi as it pits him against his native country, a traditional powerhouse in the sport.

Ahn dominated the Olympics eight years ago in Turin, bringing home four medals ―

The turning point came in 2010, when Ahn failed to make the Korean Olympic squad.

Complaining of a lack of support from the Korean speed skating federation, as well as “jealousy” within the team, Ahn approached Russian sporting authorities. He relocated to Moscow and took on Russian citizenship.

“The strange thing about these Games is that I have a feeling of preparing for it as if for my first competition so I am trying to regain all of my strength to focus on this goal,” he told Reuters last week.

“There was a situation that prevented me from training comfortably in South Korea, but in Russia, the sports atmosphere is great.”

Ahn arrives in Sochi with momentum, having won the 500-meter event at the International Skating Union World Cup Short Track in Seoul in October. However, he will face stiff competition not only from Koreans but also stars such as Canada’s Charles Hamelin, the 2010 Olympic Champion in the 500.

Watchers favor Ahn in the 500 meters, nudging out skaters such as Hamelin, China’s Liang Wenhao and Korean Park Se-yeong.

He’s also expected to be in the hunt for the 1,000 meters, though he’ll have to out-skate Hamelin, U.S. star J.R. Celski and Korean Sin Da-woon.

Koreans Sin and Kim Yun-jae are favored in the 1,500 meters but observers don’t count Ahn out in the event.

“In my eyes, Viktor Ahn, as he’s now called, is the most beautiful short track skating athlete in the world in terms of his technique and the way he skates,” retired U.S. speed skater Apolo Ohno said.

Russia hopes that Ahn can reverse its fortunes in short track, in which it has only won a bronze medal during the 1992 Alberta games. Korea remains the dominant nation in the sport: its 19 golds are twelve more than any other nation.

Ahn says the sport has changed since his salad days.

“I concentrate on my own skills and preparation and try to win naturally,” he told Reuters. “My strategy will have many changes since the previous Olympics (in 2006) since the sport itself has evolved.”