Lausanne, Switzerland, January 20, 2020: Korean athletes confirmed their dominance of short track speed skating at the Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games by taking gold in the men’s and ladies’ 500m events on Monday. This gave the Koreans all four gold medals contested so far.
Seo Whi-min won the ladies’ event to complete a Winter YOG double after her victory in the 1,000m on Saturday.
Lee Jeong-min turned the tables on his teammate Jang Sung-woo, winning the men’s 500m after Jang had pipped him for the gold in the 1,000m on Saturday. Zhang Tianyi (CHN) claimed the bronze in the 500m.
“We were worried before the start because we are better in the 1,000m, so to be first and second again is really good,” Lee said after his victory at the Lausanne Skating Arena.
Seo, 17, used her brilliant starting speed to control her races, leading from the front in her heat, quarterfinal, semifinal and final.
“I was worried today because the 500m is not my pet event. I’m proud I earned it,” she said.
Seo said her parents and sister in Seoul had been following her performances online and had even watched her medal presentation on Saturday.
She said she planned on keeping both gold medals but would give mascot Yodli from Monday’s success to her sister.
Behind Seo, Michelle Velzeboer (NED) claimed silver and Florence Brunelle (CAN) bronze.
Source: Olympic Information Service
