SLIP 'N' SLIDE SILVER OHNO'S GOLD GONE IN CRASH ON FINAL TURN.Byline: Paul Oberjuerge Staff Writer SALT LAKE CITY - Apolo Anton Ohno Apolo Anton Ohno (born on May 22, 1982) is an American short track speed skating competitor and a two-time gold medalist in the Winter Olympics. He also competed in and won the reality TV show, Dancing with the Stars in 2007. was skating in the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Games
The athlete deemed the best multiple-medal hope for the U.S. at these Olympics was leading the 1,000-meter short-track speedskating final as he came out of the last turn in heavy traffic, but he was caught up in a four-person crash and ended up in the wall. Ohno got up and staggered to the finish line, but not before Australia's Steven Bradbury, the fifth competitor and hopelessly out of contention moments before, got there first to win an improbable gold and relegate rel·e·gate tr.v. rel·e·gat·ed, rel·e·gat·ing, rel·e·gates 1. To assign to an obscure place, position, or condition. 2. To assign to a particular class or category; classify. See Synonyms at commit. the reeling Ohno to silver before a roaring crowd at the Delta Center. ``I did feel like I had my fingers on the win, and the next thing I know I'm in the wall,'' Ohno said. ``I have no idea (what happened). I have to look at the tape. ``I was in a daze. It happened so quick. My first thought was to get across the line as fast as I could.'' Ohno suffered a gash on the inside of his left thigh that required six stitches to close. He limped off the medals podium and came to a postrace press conference on crutches and his leg heavily wrapped. He said he hopes to be practicing today and competing Wednesday when the short-track 1,500 is contested. It was a wild end to a tight race that Ohno appeared to be a few strides from winning - until the chain-reaction accident of the sort common to stock-car racing stock-car racing Form of automobile racing. Popular in the U.S., it features cars that conform externally to standard U.S. commercial models and are raced usually on oval, paved tracks. changed everything. ``That's short-track,'' Ohno shrugged. ``This is the sport I've trained for.'' Bradbury, Australia's first Winter Games gold-medalist, conceded he was outclassed out·class tr.v. out·classed, out·class·ing, out·class·es To surpass decisively, so as to appear of a higher class. Adj. 1. but was hoping perhaps two skaters might go down, allowing him to scavenge scav·enge v. scav·enged, scav·eng·ing, scav·eng·es v.tr. 1. To search through for salvageable material: scavenged the garbage cans for food scraps. 2. a bronze medal. ``To have four guys go down all at once, it's not a commonplace thing,'' Bradbury said. ``I can't say I know what happened, but I saw them all on the ice and I said, `Hold on, this can't be happening. I think I won.' ``I'm obviously not the fastest skater, but those were my tactics, and they worked like a charm.'' Bradbury was concerned officials might order a re-race, and clearly was pleased they did not. Ohno said he probably would not have been in any condition for a re-race, and was happy to have a silver medal. Short-track is a contact sport, and the bumping began in earnest on the final lap There is also Final Lap (novel), a novel in the Traces series by Malcolm Rose. Final Lap is a video game released by Namco and Atari Games (for the Americas) in 1987 which was the unofficial sequel to the popular Pole Position games. , with Ohno in the lead. Li Jiajun Li JiaJun (born October 15, 1975) is a Chinese short track speed skater who has won 5 Olympic medals - two silver and three bronze. As of August 18th, 2006, he has officially retired from short track speedskating. of China appeared to try to pass Ohno on the outside on the final curve, and the two bumped. Li lost his balance after clipping Ohno's skate and veered into the wall. Li was disqualified dis·qual·i·fy tr.v. dis·qual·i·fied, dis·qual·i·fy·ing, dis·qual·i·fies 1. a. To render unqualified or unfit. b. To declare unqualified or ineligible. 2. for ``impeding.'' A stride or two later, Ahn Hyun-Soo of Korea, trying to pass Ohno on the inside, appeared to lose his balance, and as he went down he reached out with his right arm and seemed to drag down Ohno. As the two of them fell, Mathieu Turcotte of Canada was caught up in the spill, and followed them into the padding. Turcotte got up to finish third. ``I thought I was ready for everything,'' said Ohno, the edgy 19-year- old with the wispy wisp n. 1. A small bunch or bundle, as of straw, hair, or grass. 2. a. One that is thin, frail, or slight. b. A thin or faint streak or fragment, as of smoke or clouds. 3. goatee, ``but when somebody falls in front of you, or falls into you, there's nothing you can do. ``Next time, I'll try to be farther out farther out Of or relating to an option contract with a later expiration date than a contract that is currently owned or being considered. For example, a contract with a May expiration date is farther out than a contract with a February expiration date of in front.'' Ohno said he doubted those watching the race would be put off by its reckless conclusion. ``I think every person is turned on by the sport,'' he said. ``Crashes are a part of the sport. Anything can happen out there.'' He said he isn't disappointed that his chance for four gold medals is gone. He also competes in the 500- and 1,500-meter races, and the 5,00-meter relay. ``My quest, my journey, was not about winning four golds,'' Ohno said. ``It was about coming to the Olympics and performing my best. I'm lucky my injury wasn't more severe. Hopefully, I'll be ready for the next event.'' Bradbury, who seemed almost sheepish sheep·ish adj. 1. Embarrassed, as by consciousness of a fault: a sheepish grin. 2. Meek or stupid. sheep while accepting the gold medal, said he thought of it as a reward for his long career in the sport; this is his fourth Olympics. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) Apolo Anton Ohno doesn't seem too unhappy about winning a silver medal in the 1,000-meter short track event Saturday. Agence France Presse |
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