Thursday, February 14, 2002
Kraus falls out of contention
By STEVE BUFFERY -- Team Sun
SALT LAKE CITY -- The lone Canadian in the medal hunt at short track speed skating last night crashed and there was no French judge to blame.
Alanna Kraus of Abbotsford, B.C., the only non-francophone on the Canadian short track team, looked to be in good position to snare a medal with just under three laps to go in the women's 1,500-metre final but hit the ice and smashed into the side padding as she moved around a bend. There was nothing untoward about the accident and the gutsy Kraus, 24, got up to finish fifth. There was only one final last night in short track.
It was all systems go for Korea's Gi-Hyun Ko, who fought off a determined challenge from her teammate, Eun-Kyung Choi, to capture the gold medal in two minutes 31.581 seconds. Choi was second (2:31.610) and Evgenia Radanova of Bulgaria got the bronze (2:31.723). Ko is just 15 years old.
The big surprise on the night was the demise of Yang Yang S and Yang Yang A. The two Chinese skaters had a rough final. Yang A, who won four golds and a silver at the 2001 world championships, finished fourth while Yang S did not finish.
Kraus, a third-year member of the national team, said her crash was the result of Yang A leaning on her, but was thrilled to make the final in her first Olympic race.
"I'm real proud of myself, I gave it my best shot," she said.
"This was definitely a great night for me, a big confidence boost. Hopefully the rest of the competition goes just as well as today," said Kraus, who will also race in the 500, 1,000 and the relay.
Born in Calgary, Kraus moved to Abbotsford, B.C., at an early age and began skating at age four. Considered one of the best young skaters in the world, she placed seventh overall at the 2001 world championships, claiming sixth in the 500 and seventh in both the 1,000 and 1,500.
The two Yang Yang girls are not related and even on the Chinese team it was difficult to differentiate between the two. Age is one way. At 25, Yang A is a year older than Yang S and was called "large" by her teammates while Yang S was known as "small" (in Chinese). But Yang A didn't like the label, so she made her middle initial a neutral A and goes by Yang Yang A.
Four-time world overall champion Marc Gagnon of Chicoutimi, Que. and Mathieu Turcotte of Sherbrooke, Que., both qualified for Saturday's quarter-finals in the men's 1,000-metre event. Also qualifying was American Apolo Anton Ohno and teammate Rusty Smith.
The Canadian men's 5,000-metre relay team, the defending Olympic champion, easily qualified for Saturday's final, winning the first semi-final in 6:45.455, an Olympic record. In the second semi-final, Korea, the 2001 world champion, was disqualified for an improper pass which resulted in a crash. Korean team member Ryoung Min was injured in the altercation and was carried off on a stretcher.
2002 Games Short Track Speed Skating Coverage
