Author: Paul Newbery
Associated Press National Writer
BEIJING (AP) — The painful wait was finally over as the final pair crossed the finish line, and Gao Tingyu was engulfed by his teammates and coaches.
He then picked up a Chinese flag and sprinted through the infield of the ice ribbon, with a bold red banner flying behind his head.
As he stopped near the finish line, a loud scream could be heard in Beijing’s only new arena being built for this year’s Winter Olympics.
In the end, a Chinese man won a gold medal in speed skating at the Olympics.
Not bad for a self-proclaimed lazy person.
“I’m a slow person,” Gao said through an interpreter. “But for speed skating, I really like the speed. I also like the sound of the air in my ears when I skate. It’s exciting.”
On February 12, Kaohsiung was thrilled and set an Olympic record with a victory in the 500 meters.
However, it will take a while for the festivities to begin.
Gao, 24, was seventh in 15 pairs of skates, finishing in a stunning 34.32 seconds.Then he nervously waited in the infield for the other 16 skaters to take aim
No one can beat it.
“It felt like a roller coaster ride,” Gao said. “When I finished, I had 16 guys behind me and they were all great. I felt a little bit of pressure right up to the last group.”
Gao knew he had at least a second consecutive Olympic medal after crossing the finish line in the penultimate pair. But the real celebration begins at the end of the final set.
Gao won the 500 bronze medal at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
“It’s different from four years ago,” he said, “this time in our home country. I’m excited and nervous. I think it’s a good mentality for the game, especially for such a big event.”
Zhang Hong is China’s only speed skating gold medalist. Eight years ago, she won the women’s 1000 in Sochi.
Now she has company.
“I want to dedicate my medal to my country,” Gao said.
When Gao’s name was announced at the venue ceremony, a prelude to the medal festivities for his real gold medal later in the evening, he jumped on the top rung of the podium with his arms raised in joy.
“Gao is impressive,” said 2018 gold medalist Haavard Lorentzen. “He’s been a favorite all season since he skated so fast in the first World Cup. He ran so fast that everyone thought it was impossible to beat him at the Olympics. Good to see until he succeeds at home.”
The silver went to South Korea’s Cha Min-kyu, whose time of 34.39 gave him a medal to match the one he won in Pyeongchang four years ago.
Japan’s Wataru Morishige finished the Asian sweep with a bronze medal of 34.49.
This is the first time in the history of the Winter Olympics that three different Asian countries have won medals in one event.
“The people who came home were really hopeful and they did posters for me and things like that. It was really encouraging to see that,” Mori said. “I’m glad I can bring them a bronze medal.”
