Source: China.org.cn

02-19-2009 17:18

South Korea's teenage speed skater Lee Sang Hwa has been promised a golden future after winning the 2009 Universiade's first gold medal in Harbin Thursday, just a year away to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

The super talent, who turns 20 years old next week, now sets an eye on winning the Olympic title after outclassing the 22-year-old Yu Jing of China in the women's 500 meters race.

"My next target is for sure to become the Olympic champion as well as winning a couple of World Cups," said Lee at a post-match press conference.

"I don't want to talk a lot about the future, however," she added. "I think what's best for me is just to work hard and to play my own race when there're the Olympics."

Thursday noon on the track, Lee twice smashed the universiade record of 38.64 set by herself two years ago in Turin, clocking 38.20 in the first race and 38.16 in the second to top the general standings for crown.

"It's a sweet surprise," said Lee, "To win the universiade's first gold is something beyond my expectation since I just wanted to race against the previous record."

Thursday's results were far from her best performance, as the thin girl holds a personal best of 37.81 in the 2007 World Single Distances Championships in Salt Lake City and has set the world junior record.