Gangneung, Korea, January 22, 2024: Asia’s best young speed skaters had to bow to the power of northern Europe when the speed skating competition of the Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024 began on Monday at the Gangneung Oval.
The Netherlands won gold in the women’s 500 metres, with silver and bronze for Korea and Japan respectively, while Germany and Norway took gold and silver in the men’s 500m; Korea had to settle for bronze.
In the women’s final, the Netherlands’ Angel Daleman won gold to enhance her country’s reputation in speed skating.
Competing in the 17th and last pairing, Daleman clocked 39.28 seconds to edge out Korea’s Jung Huidan, who took silver in 39.64 – 0.36 seconds behind. Japan’s Waka Sasabuchi won the bronze medal with her time of 39.65.
Daleman had been penalized in the final of the women’s 1,000m short track the previous day, but found more joy in speed skating.
Silver medal-winner Jung said the experience was important for her future.
“It’s a bit of a pity to win silver but, overall, I’m still very happy. I really enjoyed the race and I am very grateful to be able to race in Korea in front of so many fans and spectators. I want to thank them for coming to support us,” said Jung, whose fan club in the Gangneung Oval included her mother and grandma.
In the men’s 500m sprint, Germany’s Finn Sonnekalb took gold in 36.61 seconds, ahead of Norway’s Miika Johan Klevstuen in 36.79. Korea’s Shin Seonung won the bronze in 37.13 seconds.