World Champion Yang Yang (A) collected China's second gold medal of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City Saturday -- both won by her -- when she skated to victory in the women's 1000m short track speed skating final.
She became the first short track skater to win two individual gold medals at the same Olympics.
Yang Yang (A) was timed one minute and 36.397 seconds for the title. Ko Gi-Hyun of South Korea had the silver at 1:36.427 and another Chinese skater Yang Yang (S) took the bronze in 1:37.008.
Yang Yang (A), 25, and Yang Yang (S) led for much of the nine-lap race with the 15-year-old Ko settling into third. With a lap remaining, Yang Yang (A) assumed control and battled Ko to the finish.
After 10 silver medals and four bronzes, Yang Yang (A) gave China its first-ever gold medal by winning the 500 meters a week ago and her two golds remain the only victories by a Chinese athlete at a Winter Olympics.
Yang Yang (A) is no relation to Yang Yang (S) -- they use the initials to differentiate themselves because they have the same name.
(China Daily February 24, 2002)
