After returning from coach to athlete, she won silver medal. This is a story written by Seo Yi-ra (31), the only member of the short track team in her 30s.
Seo won the silver medal with a time of 41.205 seconds in the men’s 500m final of the 2023-2024 International Skating Union Short Track World Cup held at Mokdong Ice Rink in Seoul on Sunday. She was just 0.009 seconds behind Liu Xiaoang of China, who had a fierce competition until the last minute.
In the 500m, where Korea has traditionally been weak, medal expectations were not high. Hwang Dae-heon gave up the race due to a problem with his skating blade during the race in the semi-final, and Seo Yi-ra made it to the final alone. Seo Yi-ra did it when expectations were not high. She saved the pride of Korean short track speed skating by winning a surprise silver medal.
When Seo started the race, she quickly jumped to second place. After calmly continuing the race, Seo took the lead by penetrating into the in-course run with two laps to go. It seemed that Seo was taking the gold medal. However, she allowed Liu Xiaoang of China to chase her and crossed the finish line in second place with just around the corner.
Seo displayed her unique showmanship at a time when it was difficult to visually identify who was No. 1. She performed the ceremony by standing up her index finger. However, the gold medal went to Liu Xiaoang by 0.009 seconds. “As soon as I entered the finish line, I could see (Ryu Xiaoang’s) feet,” Seo said in a mixed zone. “I had a ceremony because I couldn’t tell who was No. 1.” “I was very nervous since it’s been a long time, but I’m glad that I got a good result.”
Seo Yi-ra is an athlete with a strong will. After retiring as an active coach, she returned to the national team and was re-elected to the national team. She returned to the national team for the first time in five years after the 2018 World Championship. As the only oldest and in her 30s to win a meaningful silver medal at a World Cup event held at her home turf. It was her first medal at an international competition in about five years after the 1,000-meter bronze medal at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. In individual events at a World Cup event, she won the 1,000-meter gold medal at the fifth World Cup event in the 2015-2016 season 월카지노.
“When I came back from coach to athlete, I regretted it because it was harder than I thought. However, I won an individual medal at an international competition for the first time in five years,” Seo said at a press conference after the event.
In the 500 meters, the shortest distance in a short track speed skating, it is important to compete for the lead in the initial stage based on explosive power. It is not an exaggeration to say that the color of a medal can be determined by the ranking of starting players in the early stage. Seo said that her strength lies in strength. “I am relatively strong compared to my physique. That is why I have an advantage in short-distance events,” she said. “I regret that I did not win the gold medal, but I am satisfied that I won the medal at the competition held in Korea.”