Lee Sang-hwa of South Korea Wins Olympic Gold Medal

South Korea’s Lee Sang-hwa, right, and Brittany Bowe of the U.S. compete in the first heat of the women’s 500-meter speedskating race at the Adler Arena Skating Center during the 2014 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. ~ Yahoo Sports! (AP Photo/David J. Phillip )

South Korea’s Lee wins gold in women’s 500 meters

SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Lee Sang-hwa burst off the line with a flawless start. She built up speed with each stride on the front straightway – her arms swinging powerfully, her body low to the ice.

By the time Lee came around the final turn, the gold medal was a formality.

”Right now,” said silver medalist Olga Fatkulina, ”she is almost Usain Bolt.”

The South Korean lived up to the hype as the overwhelming favorite in women’s 500-meter speedskating Tuesday, zipping around the big oval with the two fastest runs to win her second straight Olympic gold.

Lee dominated the World Cup circuit this season, winning every event she entered.

The 24-year-old kept up that form at Adler Arena.

”It’s not easy to repeat that,” said Lee’s Canadian coach, Kevin Crockett. ”It was a lot of pressure. She is a real champion.”

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