Gao glides to glory

Star savors golden moment on historic night for China's speed skating

Gao Tingyu broke a decades-old jinx when he won Saturday's men's 500m speed skating final at Beijing 2022.

The 24-year-old made history at the National Speed Skating Oval by becoming the first Chinese opening-ceremony flagbearer to win gold at either edition of the Olympics in the nation's 42-year Games history.

Clocking an Olympic-record 34.32 seconds to beat Cha Min-kyu (34.39) of the Republic of Korea and Wataru Morishige (34.49) of Japan, Gao also became the first Chinese man to top the podium in an Olympic speed skating event.

The previous record was 34.41, set by Haavard Holmefjord Lorentzen of Norway four years ago in Pyeongchang, where Gao won bronze.

"I did what I promised－to upgrade the bronze to gold," Gao said. "There was no flagbearer jinx. I raced on home ice and I absolutely gave it my all."