Sung Si-Bak
Encyclopedia
Sung Si-Bak is a South Korean short track speed skater
. At the 2007 Winter Universiade
, he won all five short track speed skating events. Sung has won more than 20 World Cup races and earned two World Cup titles, in addition to skating on the winning World Championship 5000 m relay teams in 2007 and 2008. He qualified for the 2010 Winter Olympics
in Vancouver
, Canada
. Sung was in medal contention leading into the final lap of the 1500 m
event there, when a crash between him and a teammate led to his finishing in 5th place.
Sung's career in the short track speed skating world cup has been a successful one. In the 500 m, he took first place in the 2007/2008 season, second in the 2008/2009 season, and third in the 2009/2010 season. In the 1500 m, he was first in 2008/2009 and third in 2009/2010. In total, he has won more than 20 World Cup races. He has also seen some success in World Championships. In 2007 and 2008, he was a member of the world champion 5000 m relay teams. He and his South Korean teammates also won the World Team Championships in 2009, having earned third place the previous year and second in 2007.
Sung was selected for the South Korean team
at the 2010 Winter Olympics
to compete in four events, the 500 m
, the 1000 m
, the 1500 m
, and the 5000 m team relay
.
In the first of these events, the 1500 m, Sung was among the three leading skaters, all South Koreans, going into the final lap when he was taken out by his teammate Lee Ho-Suk
who attempted to pass him and both collided and slid into the wall. The fall allowed Americans
Apolo Anton Ohno
and J. R. Celski to take silver and bronze. Lee Ho-Suk
was disqualified for causing the fall, and Sung who would have gotten silver, finished in 5th place.
In the heat race for the 1000 m competition, he set an Olympic Record with a time of 1:24.245. However, disappointingly he didn't advance to the finals as he finished third in the semi-finals. During the pre-finals of 1000 m, he was disqualified from the event for bumping another skater.
In the 500m Olympic Final, Sung was in the lead but slipped in the final corner before making contact with Charles Hamelin
, and ended up crossing the finish line third. However, he was able to take the Silver medal due to a disqualification of Apolo Ohno
.
Short track speed skating
Short track speed skating is a form of competitive ice speed skating. In competitions, multiple skaters skate on an oval ice track with a circumference of 111.12 m...
. At the 2007 Winter Universiade
2007 Winter Universiade
The 2007 Winter Universiade, the XXIII Winter Universiade, took place in Turin, Italy from January 17 to January 27, 2007.-Opening ceremony:The Opening Ceremony of the XXIII Winter Universiade Torino 2007 was held with a cast of acrobats, circus performers and dancers.The evening began with the...
, he won all five short track speed skating events. Sung has won more than 20 World Cup races and earned two World Cup titles, in addition to skating on the winning World Championship 5000 m relay teams in 2007 and 2008. He qualified for the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Sung was in medal contention leading into the final lap of the 1500 m
Short track speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 1500 metres
The men's 1500 metres in short track speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics took place February 13 at the Pacific Coliseum. Heats took place at 5:00 PM PST, while the semifinals took place at 6:18 PM PST and the final event one hour later at 7:18 PM PST.-Preview:Going into the competition,...
event there, when a crash between him and a teammate led to his finishing in 5th place.
Career
Sung began speedskating in elementary school at the behest of his parents, who hoped that it would help make him stronger. He nearly gave up the sport in order to continue his schooling, but chose to continue training as a professional speedskater.Sung's career in the short track speed skating world cup has been a successful one. In the 500 m, he took first place in the 2007/2008 season, second in the 2008/2009 season, and third in the 2009/2010 season. In the 1500 m, he was first in 2008/2009 and third in 2009/2010. In total, he has won more than 20 World Cup races. He has also seen some success in World Championships. In 2007 and 2008, he was a member of the world champion 5000 m relay teams. He and his South Korean teammates also won the World Team Championships in 2009, having earned third place the previous year and second in 2007.
Sung was selected for the South Korean team
South Korea at the 2010 Winter Olympics
South Korea participated as the Republic of Korea at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This was their best performance at the Winter Olympics to date, ranking 5th on the medal table...
at the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
to compete in four events, the 500 m
Short track speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 500 metres
The men's 500 metres in short track speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics was held 24–26 February 2010 at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada....
, the 1000 m
Short track speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 1000 metres
The men's 1000 metres in short track speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics began on February 17. The final was held on February 20, at the Pacific Coliseum.-Heats:-Quarterfinals:-Semifinals:-Final B :...
, the 1500 m
Short track speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 1500 metres
The men's 1500 metres in short track speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics took place February 13 at the Pacific Coliseum. Heats took place at 5:00 PM PST, while the semifinals took place at 6:18 PM PST and the final event one hour later at 7:18 PM PST.-Preview:Going into the competition,...
, and the 5000 m team relay
Short track speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 5000 metre relay
The men's 5000 metre relay in short track speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics began on 17 February, and ended on 26 February at the Pacific Coliseum.-Semifinals:-Final B :-Final A :-External links:...
.
In the first of these events, the 1500 m, Sung was among the three leading skaters, all South Koreans, going into the final lap when he was taken out by his teammate Lee Ho-Suk
Lee Ho-Suk
Lee Ho-Suk is a South Korean short track speedskater. He won an Olympic gold medal as a part of 5000m Short-track relay team and won four Olympic silver medals. He is the Overall World Champion for 2009 and 2010.-Career:...
who attempted to pass him and both collided and slid into the wall. The fall allowed Americans
United States at the 2010 Winter Olympics
The United States participated in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The U.S. team had a historic Winter Games, winning an unprecedented 37 medals. Team USA's medal haul, which included nine gold, marked the first time since the 1932 Lake Placid Games that the U.S....
Apolo Anton Ohno
Apolo Anton Ohno
Apolo Anton Ohno is an American short track speed skating competitor and an eight-time medalist in the Winter Olympics. He is the most decorated American Winter Olympic athlete of all time....
and J. R. Celski to take silver and bronze. Lee Ho-Suk
Lee Ho-Suk
Lee Ho-Suk is a South Korean short track speedskater. He won an Olympic gold medal as a part of 5000m Short-track relay team and won four Olympic silver medals. He is the Overall World Champion for 2009 and 2010.-Career:...
was disqualified for causing the fall, and Sung who would have gotten silver, finished in 5th place.
In the heat race for the 1000 m competition, he set an Olympic Record with a time of 1:24.245. However, disappointingly he didn't advance to the finals as he finished third in the semi-finals. During the pre-finals of 1000 m, he was disqualified from the event for bumping another skater.
In the 500m Olympic Final, Sung was in the lead but slipped in the final corner before making contact with Charles Hamelin
Charles Hamelin
Charles Hamelin is a Canadian short track speed skater from Sainte-Julie, Quebec. Hamelin is a 3 time Olympic medalist having won 2 gold and 1 silver during the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics...
, and ended up crossing the finish line third. However, he was able to take the Silver medal due to a disqualification of Apolo Ohno
Apolo Anton Ohno
Apolo Anton Ohno is an American short track speed skating competitor and an eight-time medalist in the Winter Olympics. He is the most decorated American Winter Olympic athlete of all time....
.