Viktor Ahn biography
Viktor Ahn, unique identify Ahn Hyun-Soo, (born November 23, 1985, Seoul, South Korea), South Korean-born Russian short-track pace skater who gained six Olympic gold medals and 6 world championships (2003–07 and 2014) to ascertain himself as one of many high performers in his sport’s historical past.
Ahn began short-track skating at age eight, impressed by countryman Chae Ji-Hoon, who captured a gold and a silver medal on the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. At 5 toes 4 inches (1.64 metres) and 120 kilos (54 kg), Ahn was completely constructed for the quick speeds and tight corners of quick observe. In 2002 he gained the general world junior championships and completed second on the senior world championships. Later that yr he made his Olympic debut on the Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, however had disappointing outcomes. Ahn was one of many favourites within the 1,000 metres, however within the last China’s Li Jiajun brought on a pileup that knocked out everybody besides Australian Steven Bradbury (then skating in final place), who gained the race by default; Ahn completed fourth. Ahn was later disqualified within the 1,500-metre semifinal and left Salt Lake City with no medal. During the 2003 season, nonetheless, he recovered his momentum, setting world data at 1,500 metres and three,000 metres and capturing the primary of 5 consecutive world total titles.
At the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy, Ahn gained the 1,500 metres to seize his first gold medal after which set an Olympic document within the 1,000 metres en path to his second gold. He took a bronze medal within the 500 metres. In the ultimate occasion, the 5,000-metre relay, he adopted his standard technique by holding off till the ultimate laps. He then sprinted for the end from an outdoor passing lane to provide South Korea its sixth short-track gold medal and one other Olympic document time. As the competitors performed out, Ahn held off the problem of his greatest rival, American Apolo Anton Ohno, who gained the five hundred metres however by no means severely challenged Ahn in some other occasion.
In 2008 Ahn sustained a extreme knee damage whereas coaching, and the extended restoration course of saved him from qualifying for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. During that point, he had a falling-out with the Korean Skating Union, which prompted Ahn to start seeking to skate for different nations. In 2011 he immigrated to Russia—host of the upcoming 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi—and adjusted his identify to Viktor Ahn. He returned to the pinnacle of his sport on the 2014 Olympics, profitable gold medals within the 500 metres, the 1,000 metres, and the 5,000-metre relay in addition to a bronze within the 1,500 metres. His victory within the 500 metres made Ahn the primary pace skater to win Olympic gold in all 4 short-track distances. In 2014 he additionally gained his sixth world championship title.
Following the 2014 Olympics, Russia turned embroiled in a doping scandal, and the nation was subsequently banned from the 2018 Games in P’yŏngch’ang, South Korea. Ahn, who had by no means examined constructive for performance-enhancing medicine, challenged the choice, however his enchantment was denied. He retired from pace skating in September 2018.