Many years ago, he was the Olympic champion's first coach. That was back when both were living in Seoul. When Lee Jung-Su was just a skinny little kid in the first grade who did not know a thing about short track speedskating. And when Vancouver was just another name on a map.
VANCOUVER -- Many years ago, he was the Olympic champion's first coach.
That was back when both were living in Seoul, when Lee Jung-Su was just a skinny little kid in the first grade who did not know a thing about short track speedskating. And when Vancouver was just another name on a map.
"He was very, very weak," remembers Jae Su Chun, who is now the coach of the U.S. team. "But he had very good natural technique."
Many years later, the 20-year-old Lee has become stronger and Vancouver has become more than just a name on a map. He has won a gold medal in the 1,500 metres. He has won a gold in the 1,000 metres. And he will try for the gold medal hat trick tonight in the 3,000-metre relay.
The last short track skaters to do this (Hyun-Soo Ahn and Sun-Yu Jin) were also from Korea. But no one is putting the skinny little kid from Seoul in that company.
Not yet, anyway. For now, they're calling him fortunate.
"In the Olympics he had good results and everyone is thinking he is the fastest skater," said Jae Su. "But everyone is good. I don't know if it's just lucky because he is a very good skater. It's not fair to say that."
In the 1,500 metres, he was about to be passed when two of his countrymen collided on the final lap. In the 1,000 metres, he crossed the finish line in first because Apolo Anton Ohno and Sung Si-Bak were trying to bump each other off the track.
"He was really, really lucky," said Jae Su.
In short track speedskating, luck plays a part in every race, every lap, every stride. But so does strategy and skill. All three have been on Lee's side so far during these Games.
"Ok, he's good enough to win," said Jae Su. "But the other three Koreans were better. He had a good day."
Right before the Olympics, Jae Su said Lee was having nothing but bad days. The two had spoke frequently. Lee was concerned about his poor performances. He questioned his technique. He became worried that he would disappoint his country. Or, worse, his family.
Many years ago, Lee was not the only athlete in the family. His sister was a talented figure skater. But having two kids in specialized sports was expensive. And though the Lee family was not poor, they were also not rich enough to pay for both. A decision had to be made. Someone would have to quit.
The skinny little kid won then. And over the years, he would continue winning. First a gold medal at the 2006 world junior championship. Then consecutive silver medals in 2007 and 2008.
And it was not long before his first coach also became his first student.
"We were learning from him," said Jae Su. "What is his strength, what is his weakness, what we need to do to beat him? In 2007, we are training like this. But since last year, we are getting close."
Many years ago, Jae Su was the Olympic champion's coach. Many years later, he is now an admirer.
"I'm very proud of him," said Jae Su. "It was our goal to beat him. But when he beats us cleanly, I'm very proud.
