Ahn Hyun-soo “Learn More, Ohno”

18-year old Ahn Hyun-soo (Shinmok high school) defeated “Foul King” Apolo Anton Ohno of the United States once again after the 1500-meter race winning.

Ahn won the gold medal with a final time of 4:32.646, beating second place finisher, Song Suk-woo (20, Dankook University, 4:32.770), and third place, Kim Hyun-gon (18, Gwangmun high school, 4:32.867), at the men’s 3000-meter final on the final day of the Fourth Short Track World Cup held in Beijing, China on Sunday.

Ahn took the lead after the 18th lap, along with Song and Kim, in the 27-lap race, while Ohno took only fourth place.

Kim Hyun-gon clinched the gold medal at the men’s 1000-meter race with a final time of 1:27.552, only 0.002 second faster than his compatriot Ahn (1:27.554).

Women’s races stole the show for Korea.

19-year old Choi Eun-kyung (Korea Nat’l University of Physical Education) seized the gold medal at the women’s 3000-meter decider with a final time of 6:09.003, beating 16-year old Byun Chun-sa (Shinmok high school, 6:09.103) and Wang Meng (6:09.238). Byun won the women’s 1000-meter race with a final time of 1:38.932, beating Choi by only 0.05 seconds.

The Korean team, composed of Choi, Kim Min-ji (17, Jinmyung lady’s high school), Ko Ki-hyun, and Cho hae-ri (17, Sewha lady’s high school), captured the gold medal at the women’s 3000-meter relay, followed by China and Canada.

Korea has shown poor performances in the short races, but on Saturday, Song Suk-woo won the coveted men’s 500-meter race with a final time of 42.447, beating Canada’s Jeff Scolten (42.535).

Meanwhile, Korea picked up eight gold medals out of a possible 10 during this three-day World Cup to again confirm its status as the most powerful nation in short track speed skating. For the overall men and women team standings, Korea took the lead by easily beating China and Canada.

jaeyuna@donga.com