Wang Meng, the gold medallist in this event in 2006 in Turin and the two-time defending world champion, was undefeated at all four World Cup stops this season.
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Olympic preview: Women's 500 metres
- February 14, 2010 3:05 PM |
- By Guy Spurrier
Story provided by
Short-track speed skating: Women's 500 metres
The contenders
Wang Meng, the gold medallist in this event in 2006 in Turin and the two-time defending world champion, was undefeated at all four World Cup stops this season. She was also the overall champion at the last two world championships. Being short-track, anything can happen but an upset would be a surprise.
The top five (World Cup rankings)
1. Wang Meng, China, 3,000 points
2. Kalyna Roberge, Canada, 2,240
3. Zhao Nannan, China, 1,952
4. Marianne St-Gelais, Canada, 1,315
5. Jessica Gregg, Canada, 1,272
Canadian medal hopes
Behind Wang are the triple threats of the Canadian team. Roberge, 23, from St-Etienne-de-Lauzon, Que., was just 19 when she competed in Turin, winning silver with the women's 3,000 relay team. She finished second to Wang in the last two World Cups and was third in the one before that. St-Gelais, 20, from St-Félicien, Que., has a pair of thirds in World Cup this season. Gregg, 22, from Edmonton, was second to Wang in the first World Cup in China this season. At 5-foot-9, she seems to tower over her tiny competitors.
Dark horses
Katherine Reutter of the U.S., competed in only two World Cup this season, but may get the benefit of the mythical "Colbert Bump" after her appearance on The Colbert Report in December.
Photo: Jessica Gregg is ranked fifth in the world for 500 metres. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
About the Author
- Bruce Arthur Bruce Arthur is the National Post's national sports columnist. A Vancouver native, he has been with the Post since 2001, and a columnist since 2005. He is covering his second Olympics, after the 2008 Games in Beijing. He expects these Games to be slightly less propagandistic, and for China to win slightly fewer medals.
- Joe O'Connor Joe O'Connor is a roving sports feature writer with an open-ended beat. He joined the National Post in 2002, and has spent the past seven years bouncing from sport to sport, offering fresh perspectives and delivering unique stories wherever he goes. Whether it has been getting Don Cherry to open up about his love life; George Chuvalo to talk about heartbreaking loss; or racing down the side of a mountain with former Crazy Canuck, Dave Irwin, the veteran Postie chases a story wherever it leads. Before joining the newspaper he was a two-time silver medalist at the National Magazine Awards. Vancouver will be his first Olympics.
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