Gabel Reaches the Final, Finishes Fourth in 1,000
The SigAlert nature of short-track speedskating was illustrated in the men’s 1,000 meters when Andy Gabel of the United States, a three-time Olympian at 33, benefited from a pair of heat disqualifications--the second stemming from a wipeout collision of the entire semifinal field except for Gabel, who was last at the time--to advance to the finals, where he finished fourth and last.
Kim Dong-Sung, the 1997 world champion from South Korea, rallied to edge China’s Li Jiajun by a narrow blade for the gold. Eric Bedard of Canada was third.
Rusty Smith, 18, of Sunset Beach was eliminated in a quarterfinal heat, falling on the next-to-last lap while trying an outside move on the three skaters ahead of him.
“The Games aren’t over,” he said. “I’m here to get a medal.”
He is considered a strong candidate in Saturday’s 500 meters.
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MEDALISTS
Short-Track Speedskating
MEN’S 1,000 METERS
Gold: Kim Dong-sung, S. Korea
Silver: Li Jiajun, China
Bronse: Eric Bedard, Canada
Go beyond the scoreboard
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