Published : Jan. 15, 2012 - 17:54
Korea’s Jang Mi celebrates with her gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games on Saturday. (Yonhap News)
INNSBRUCK, Austria (Yonhap News) ― South Korea’s Jang Mi brought home the first gold medal at the inaugural Winter Youth Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, Saturday, winning the 500-meter women’s speedskating race.
The 16-year-old sprinter timed at 40.88 seconds in the first race and 40.80 seconds in the second to win the event with an aggregate 81.68 seconds.
China’s Shi Xiaoxuan earned silver with a combined 84.32 seconds, and Martine Lilloy Brunn of Norway won the bronze with 87.51.
“I started late in the first race because I felt a little bit heavy at that time. But later in the second, I felt better and could beat the rivals,” said Jang. “I dream of winning gold medals at the upcoming Winter Games in Sochi and PyeongChang,” she said.