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Unsatisfying victory for Yang
By Maria Titze
Deseret News staff writer
After skating to victory in the race for which she holds the world record, China's Yang Yang (A) said she missed the motivating presence of her rival — Bulgaria's Evgenia Radanova — on the ice.
"The semifinal was much easier" without her, Yang said after winning Saturday night's 1,000-meter at the short-track speedskating Olympic qualifier at the Delta Center. "I had to tell myself to skate harder."
Radanova qualified for the quarterfinals in an early heat, but was a no-show for that race and was absent for the rest of the evening. Rumor had it she was nursing a knee injury, but the Bulgarian team would not confirm the report.
"I hope she's OK" was all Yang could tell reporters.
With a final time of 1 minute, 33.052 seconds, Yang edged out the shy Korean teenager, Ko Gi-Hyun, at 1:33.139.
The 16-year-old won the ladies 1,500-meter Thursday night.
Rounding out the medal podium for the women was Japan's Chikage Tanaka with a time of 1:33.253.
For the men, there were plenty of blade complaints to go around.
China's Li Jiajun and American Apolo Anton Ohno both said skate problems gave them trouble in the final won by Kim Dong-Sung of Korea.
"There was a problem with my right skate edge. I was really slipping a lot," Ohno said after claiming the bronze. "I checked the blades and they looked fine, but for sure something was wrong."
But Ohno's comments were not sour grapes. He said he's pleased to have claimed a second medal in this weekend's competition. He won the gold in the 1,500-meter on Thursday.
"This is just another test," said last year's top World Cup winner and the U.S. team's best hope for a medal in February. "It's a long way to the Olympics."
Kim said he has "learned a lot at this championship" and is also looking forward the Winter Games. "I was happy to win this race," he said of his 1:28.947 victory in the 1,000-meter. "There were many stronger skaters tonight."
Li's time in the final was 1:29.133 and Ohno came in third at 1:29.309.
The Olympic qualifiers conclude tomorrow with the mens and ladies relays at 1 p.m. Tickets are still available at the Delta Center or by calling 325-SEAT.
E-MAIL: mtitze@desnews.com
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October 28, 2001
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