Russia's Ahn Going For Gold in Short Skate

By The Moscow Times

Feb. 10, 2014

Viktor Ahn, a three-time Olympic champion.

Team Russia's Viktor Ahn will go for gold in the men's 1,500-meter short skate after finishing second in the short track qualifiers.

Ahn, a three-time Olympic champion, will take to the ice at 16:05 on Monday after posting a time of 2:16:000 in the semi-finals.

The skater — a native of Seoul, South Korea — competed for years under his home flag, before switching nationalities in 2011, citing conflicts and a lack of support from his management team. It was during this time that Ahn changed his name from Hyun Soo to the more Russian-sounding "Viktor."

"It was my father who searched the Internet for a possible destination … I could have moved to America but ended up" in Russia. "Please, don't get me wrong — I have no regrets," Ahn said, Reuters reported.

Russia is hoping that the inclusion of Ahn will significantly boost their medal prospects in the short-track skate, having only ever won one Olympic medal in the event.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue