Formerly known as Ahn Hyun-soo, Korean-turned-Russian short track speed skating star Viktor Ahn earned his adopted homeland a bronze medal in the men’s 1,500 meters at the Sochi Winter Olympics on Monday. The medal is hailed as “historic” in Russia, as it is the host nation’s first Olympic medal in the unpredictable, high-speed sport. Right after the race, Ahn held the press conference and revealed the story behind his decision to change his nationality. The former Olympic champion, who had avoi

South Korean speed skater Lee Sang-hwa captured the gold medal in the women's 500 meters on Tuesday at the Sochi Winter Games, putting together two blistering races to successfully defend her Olympic title.In the two-race competition at Adler Arena Skating Center, Lee had a combined time of 74.70 seconds, a new Olympic record and 0.36 second faster than the runner-up, Olga Fatkulina of Russia. Margot Boer of the Netherlands took the bronze in 75.48 seconds combined.After ranking first in the ope

South Korean speed skater Lee Sang-hwa put herself in prime position to claim her second straight Olympic gold in the women's 500 meters after Tuesday's opening race at the Sochi Winter Games.Lee posted the fastest time in the first of the two races with 37.42 seconds, 0.15 second ahead of Olga Fatkulina of Russia.The next races will start at 6:34 p.m. here (11:34 p.m. in South Korea), and the combined time will determine the champion.Lee, the 500ｍ world record holder with 36.36 seconds, was gro

Tension is building between Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yu-na and the much praised Russian prodigy Julia Lipnitskaia with the individual event just over one week away.The Vancouver Olympics gold medalist and record holder, also known as Queen Yu-na at home, is determined to defend her title against the younger Lipnitskaia, who was the driving force behind Russia’s first gold medal of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in team figure skating.Born on June 5, 1998, in Yekaterinburg, Lipnitskaia

A handful of countries have dominated the gold medal tally in varying sports in the Sochi Winter Olympic Games. South Korea is far ahead in short track speed skating, claiming 19 of 40 gold medals before the 2014 Games. Both Canada and China are at a distant second with seven each. Germany dominates in luge, sweeping 28 gold medals since it was adopted as an Olympic program in 1964. The number is more than half of the 41 gold up for grabs in the event thus far. Overall, Germany has taken 71 of 1

Speed skating world record holder Lee Sang-hwa will chase her second straight Olympic gold in the women's 500 meters on Tuesday at the Sochi Winter Olympics.Lee was the surprise Olympic champion four years ago in Vancouver and has dominated the 500ｍ event since then. She set her first world record in January last year and broke it three times in November. Lee is trying to become only the third woman to repeat as the Olympic champ in the 500ｍ.The women's curling team will face Japan and then Swit

South Korean speed skater Mo Tae-bum finished fourth in the men's 500 meters at the Sochi Winter Games on Monday, coming up just short of the country's first medal in Russia.In the two-race event at Adler Arena Skating Center, Mo had a combined time of 69.69 seconds -- 0.38 second behind the champion, Michel Mulder of the Netherlands.Mo was in fourth place after the opening race at 34.84 seconds, 0.25 second behind the leader, Jan Smeekens of the Netherlands, and finished his second race in 34.8

South Korean speed skater Mo Tae-bum finished fourth in the opening race of the men's 500 meters at the Sochi Winter Games on Monday, keeping alive his chance to win a second straight Olympic gold.Mo finished the first run of the two-race event in 34.84 seconds, 0.25 second behind the leader Jan Smeekens of the Netherlands.The second races will start at 6:55 p.m. in Russia (11:55 p.m. in South Korea).Mo was grouped in the 18th among 20 pairs and skated in the outer lane next to Joji Kato of Japa

South Korean short track speed skater Lee Han-bin finished sixth in the men's 1,500 meters on Monday at the Sochi Winter Olympics.Lee, the only South Korean in the finals, came up short of winning the country's first medal at the ongoing Winter Games.In the seven-man final, Lee started the 13 1/2-lap race in the back of the pack. He moved up to fifth place with nine laps to go, and passed another skater in the next lap. That was as close as Lee came to winning a medal, however, as he slipped to