Charles Hamelin (CAN) looks on in the Men's 1500m semi-final during the 2021 ISU World Cup Short Track in Dordrecht, Netherlands.© International Skating Union (ISU)
Canada’s Short Track legend Charles Hamelin gets in action in the Men’s 1500m as the Short Track competition continues on Wednesday at the Beijing Capital Indoor Stadium. The Women’s events continue with the 1000m heats and the 3000m semifinals.
Ren (CHN) goes for third Beijing gold in the 1500m
Ziwei Ren has won already two gold medals in Beijing in the Mixed Relay and the 1000m and is the top ranked World Cup competitor over the 1500m. He will face Charles Hamelin (CAN), the 2014 Olympic Champion in the 1500m. 2018 Olympic silver medalist Daeheon Hwang (KOR) will be looking for revenge after not going through to the Final in the 1000m and so will Shaolin Sandor Liu (HUN), who received a yellow card in the 1000m Final. His brother Shaoang has the 1000m bronze under his belt. The experienced Sjinkie Knegt (NED) holds the world record over this distance and after crashing out of the 1000m with a yellow card wants to come back strong in the 1500m.
Ziwei Ren (CHN) and Shaolin Sandor Liu (HUN) compete during the Men's 1000m Final A at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China.© Getty Images
Other contenders include Semen Elistratov (ROC), Pascal Dion (CAN) and Janghyuk Park (KOR).
Women’s 1000m heats
The Women’s competition continues with the heats in the 1000m. Suzanne Schulting (NED) will be on the ice again. She leads the World Cup standings. Others to watch are two-time Olympic Champion Minjeong Choi (KOR), record ten-time Olympic medalist Arianna Fontana (ITA), four-time Olympic medalist Kim Boutin (CAN), Kristen Santos (USA) and Natalia Maliszewska (POL).
Kim Boutin (CAN) and Suzanne Schulting (NED) congratulate the gold medal winner Arianna Fontana (ITA) during the Short Track Speed Skating at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. © Getty Images
Women’s 3000m relay semis
The Women also compete in the 3000m relay semifinals. The Netherlands hold the world record and are the favorites. They can expect competition from the Korean and Canadian teams.
Competition starts with the Men’s 1500m quarterfinals Wednesday at the Beijing Capital Indoor Stadium.
