After Wang Meng, China's new short track speed skating star and 500m gold medallist, captured the bronze medal at the women's 1,500m race on Saturday, she vowed to reach the top of the podium again in upcoming Olympic events.

Despite coming up short of a gold in her second Olympic final, the 20-year-old developed maturity on the ice and promised to break the South Koreans' dominance in the long-distance races four years later in the Vancouver Games.

"Facing three South Koreans in the final alone, I realized that team work is very important in the short track competition," Wang said. "I'm sure that in the 2010 Games, the podium of short track speed skating won't be dominated by South Koreans again."

As for the upcoming 1,000m and 3,000m relay, Wang said the goal of winning them all would not change.

"I will try to aim for all gold, especially in the relay race," Wang said. "The gold medal of the relay is the one that I want most. I will fight with all my efforts to win this team gold for my country with my team-mates."

As both of her team-mates Yang Yang (A) and Cheng Xiaolei failed to reach the final, Wang had to battle her way through the pincer attack of three South Korean skaters during the 1,500m final.

Being the fourth one to cross the finishing line following three South Koreans, Wang was awarded the bronze medal to deny the Koreans a medal sweep after Byun Chun-sa was disqualified for impeding Wang.

Jin Sun-yu and Choi Eun-kyung of South Korea took the gold and silver respectively.

"In the last lap when I was in the third, I found the opportunity to surpass the two ahead, but Byun touched the backside of my blade on purpose to protect her leading compatriots, so I lost the chance," Wang explained. "It was a tough night for me. If more Chinese reach the finals, the result would be different."

Participating in her first Olympic Games, Wang won the women's 500m race last Thursday, bringing China its first gold medal in the Turin Games.

But Wang had to skate alone in the 1,500m final. Although her coach had reservations about her performance, Wang maintained a clear mind and managed to perform her best.

"When both of the other two team-mates went out of the final, I felt a little bit nervous," Wang recalled. "But I knew that all I could do is to go all out in the final. I told myself to fully concentrate on my way, and I did it."

(China Daily February 20, 2006)