Suzanne Schulting (NED) competing during the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China. © Getty Images
Flying Dutchwoman Suzanne Schulting and Italy’s golden girl Arianna Fontana are in the center of attention as the Short Track competition continues Friday at the Beijing Capital Indoor Stadium with the Women’s 1000m, the Men’s 500m Heats and the Men’s 5000m Relay.
Arianna Fontana (ITA) and Suzanne Schulting (NED) compete in the final A of the Women's 500m Short Track Speed Skating event at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China. © AFP
Schulting (NED) goes for first Beijing gold in the 1000m
Schulting aims at her first gold medal at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games in the 1000m. The Dutch is the top favorite in this distance. She won the 1000m gold in PyeongChang 2018, is the 2021 World Champion, set an Olympic record in the Heat on Wednesday and leads the World Cup standings.
Suzanne Schulting (NED) reacts after competing in a heat of the Women's 1000m Short Track Speed Skating event during the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China. © AFP
Competition should come from Kristen Santos (USA) and two-time Olympic Champion Minjeong Choi (KOR), who is ranked third in the World Cup standings. Record ten-time Olympic medalist Fontana is in the mix as well. Other contenders include Natalia Maliszewska (POL), Xandra Velzeboer (NED), Selma Poutsma (NED) and Courtney Sarault (CAN).
Men open 500m battle with Heats
The Men’s events continue with the 500m Heats with many top Skaters. Among the top contenders are World Cup leader Shaolin Sandor Liu (HUN) and his brother Shaoang Liu as well as world record holder Dajing Wu (CHN).
Shaolin Sandor Liu (HUN) competes ahead of his brother Shaoang Liu (HUN) in a semi-final heat of the Men's 1000m Short Track Speed Skating event at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China. © AFP
Ziwei Ren starts his quest for a third medal on home ice following the gold in the Mixed Relay and the 1000m earlier this week. Newly minted 1500m Olympic Champion Daeheon Hwang (KOR) returns to action. Steven Dubois (CAN) comes fresh off his silver medal in the Men’s 1500m.
Hungary goes as favorite into Men’s 5000m Relay semis
The Men also compete in the 5000m Relay semifinals. The favored Hungarians are not only the 2018 Olympic Champions but hold as well the World and Olympic record. They face Korea, the Netherlands and ROC in their semifinal. Canada and China are the favorites in the other semifinals that feature also Italy and Japan.
Competition starts with the Men’s 500m Heats Friday at the Beijing Capital Indoor Stadium.
