Russia Wins Gold and Silver in Men's Short Track

By RIA Novosti

Feb. 15, 2014

Viktor Ahn (left) and Vladimir Grigoryev (right) cheering after passing the finish line. Grigory Sisoyev

Russia's Viktor Ahn won gold and Vladimir Grigoryev won silver in the 1,000 meters short track speedskating final for the host nation at the Sochi Olympics on Saturday.

Ahn led from the start and was never seriously challenged for a fourth career Olympic gold medal and his second medal of the Sochi Games at the Iceberg Skating Palace. He timed 1:25.325, with Grigoryev clocking 1:25.399 for his first major global medal at the age of 31. World silver medalist Sjinkie Knegt of the Netherlands claimed bronze with 1:25.611.

Ahn, 28, became one of speed skating's all-time greats as a competitor for his native South Korea, where he was known as Ahn Hyun-Soo, winning 20 world championship gold medals and three Olympic titles in Turin before adopting Russian citizenship.

Ahn claimed the Sochi bronze behind Canada's Charles Hamelin and China's Han Tianyu in the 1,500 meters on Monday.

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