Korea chasing first short track gold in Sochi in women's relay

Published : Feb 18, 2014 - 09:35 Updated : Feb 18, 2014 - 13:31

South Korea is the only nation to have won at least one short track gold medal at every Winter Olympics, and the women's 3,000ｍ relay team will try to keep that streak alive on Tuesday.

South Korea leads all nations with 19 gold medals in short track since it became a medal sport in 1992, but has not captured one so far in Sochi. Shim Suk-hee won the silver in the women's 1,500ｍ and Park Seung-hi bagged the bronze in the women's 500ｍ, while the men have been shut out of medals so far.

South Korea won four straight women's relay gold medals starting in 1994, but the streak ended unceremoniously in 2010. The team of Cho Ha-ri, Park Seung-hi, Kim Min-jung and Lee Eun-byul finished the race first, in what would have been a world record time, but was disqualified for impeding a Chinese skater during the race. China got the gold instead.

South Korean team prepares for the women's 3,000m relay to be held on Tuesday in Sochi. (Yonhap)

Cho and Park have returned for their second straight Winter Games, seeking to start a new streak for the relay team.

In speed skating, Lee Seung-hoon will try to defend his gold medal in the men's 10,000ｍ. He finished a disappointing 12th in the 5,000ｍ, after winning silver in the distance four years ago.

The following is the list of events for South Korean athletes on Tuesday. All times are local.

- Alpine skiing (Rosa Khutor Alpine Center) Women's giant slalom, run 1 (11 a.m.) Women's giant slalom, run 2 (2:30 p.m.)

- Bobsleigh (Sanki Sliding Center)

Women's heat 1 (7:15 p.m.)

Women's heat 2 (8:23 p.m.)

- Short track speed skating (Iceberg Skating Palace) Ladies' 1,000ｍ heats (1:30 p.m.) Men's 500ｍ heats (2:15 p.m.) Ladies' 3,000ｍ relay finals (2:54 p.m.)

- Speed skating (Adler Arena Skating Center) Men's 10,000ｍ (5 p.m.)

(Yonhap)