Best day set for gold hopeful Wang

VANCOUVER, Canada: Speed skater Wang Beixing might not be satisfied with a bronze medal at the Vancouver Winter Games on Tuesday, but her Canadian coach says she is warming up for an era that will rule the ice.

"She was seventh at the last Olympics and this time she was placed third - that's a fantastic improvement," said coach Kevin Crockett. "I think she will dominate the event for four years. When she goes to the next Olympics, she will be fine."

At the women's 500m speedskating event on Tuesday, 24-year-old Wang didn't skate well in the first race and finished her two races in a total time of 76.63 seconds, ranking third. South Korea's Lee Sang-hwa edged Germany's reigning world champion Jenny Wolf out to win the gold medal.

Women's speed skating has been considered a special event for the Chinese delegation at the Winter Olympics since China collected its first ever Winter Olympic medal in 1992 - Ye Qiaobo took two silvers in 500m and 1,000m. Since that momentous occasion, however, no one has managed to top the success and snatch a gold.

Four years ago at the Turin Games, veteran skater Wang Manli - world No 1 of the women's 500m at the time - was beaten by Svetlana Zhurova of Russia and had to settle for a silver. The young Chinese skater Ren Hui grabbed the bronze.

China is now pinning all its hopes on Wang, since the athlete became the four-time 500m silver medalist at the world championships and was crowned silver at the 2009 World Sprint Championships, beating top favorite Wolf.

Although a gold medal didn't come this time, the young skater is still satisfied with a bronze at her second Winter Olympics.

"This is my first time to stand on the Olympic podium and it has inspired me," Wang said after the competition. "But at the same time, I did regret a little that I couldn't get the gold. It has been a dream of Chinese speed skaters for generations and I will also pursue it."

When she first began skating at seven, Wang was trained in short track skills. After two years, she adapted her skills to long track skating and was chosen for the provincial team at 15. Three years later she went to train in Canada with Crockett.

"I told myself I must do well," Wang said.

A calm girl off the ice, Wang has been attributed with a lack of power in the competition. This she refutes.

"I have been called 'gentle' and 'quiet' off the ice, but these words also describe me on the ice," Wang told China Daily. "In a race I always remain focused to do my best and get the best result possible."

Her Canadian coach added that he expected to work with her in the future after their current contract expires, following the Vancouver Games.

"Wang is very humble and not somebody that values material things," said Crockett.

"She is very smart and extremely professional. She does everything on the program and that's why she is my favorite athlete. It's really fun coaching her. I hope we can continue our success together."

(China Daily 02/18/2010 page12)