When Chinese speed skater Wang Manli was speeding through the finish line, she realized that her life dream of winning an Olympic gold medal eclipsed at the Turin Winter Olympics on Tuesday.

Wang, China's 16-time world champion, finished the women's 500m speed skating in second by 0.21 seconds behind arch rival Svetlana Zhurova of Russia.

"It's a regret to miss the chance to win a gold medal. Now, I had the mixed feelings. Everybody has pressure but I didn't transform the pressure to motivation. She (Zhurova) is mentally stronger than me," she said, tears in eyes.

Wang Manli ranked second after race one in 38.31 seconds, 0.08 seconds behind Zhurova. Their difference was further widened after race two, in which Wang finished at a time of 38.47 seconds and Zhurova 38.34.

Started skating at the age of 10. In 2004, Wang was awarded the Golden Skate by the International Skating Union. Aged at 33, Wang is one of the oldest among the Chinese athletes in the Turin Winter Olympic Games. It was widely believed that Turin would be her last Olympics.

Wang's fellow Chinese Ren Hui settled to the third place in 76.87 seconds. The 23-year-old was on her maiden Olympic journey and was excited about the bronze medal.

"I never expected this. I have given my all in the second race and I made it to the podium."

On the 2010 Vancouver Games, Ren, the bronze medalist in 500m in the 2004 World Championships, said that "I haven't thought about that. I will start all over again and improve my skills step by step."

(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2006)