The Korea Herald

Skating body faces audit over graft

The government will launch an audit into the national skating governing body over allegations of corruption and factional feuds after the end of the ongoing Winter Games, a senior sports official said Monday, as questions have been raised on the circumstances surrounding a South Korean-born athlete’s switching allegiances to Russia.“After the Sochi Winter Olympics ends (on Sunday), we will review the entire system at the Korea Skating Union to see if there had been any corruption or feuds in sel

Olympic GamesFeb. 17, 2014

Queen Yu-na out to steal the show for final time

If there were a Purple Heart medal for athletes, figure skating Olympic gold medalist Kim Yu-na would surely receive one.This is not only due to her contribution to the sport, but also the scars she has accumulated over the years. “The ‘fitness age’ of her right foot -- the foot she finishes her jumps with -- is in its 40s,” Na Young-moo, the head of Sports Orthopedics Rehabilitation for Life Hospital and also Kim’s physician for the past four years, told the local press last week. Having to rep

SportsFeb. 17, 2014

Queen Yu-na out to steal the show for final time

So far silence from Olympians on Russia’s anti-gay laws

SOCHI, Russia (AP) ― A campaign to draw attention to Russia’s anti-gay laws isn’t gaining traction among Olympic athletes, who so far have avoided saying or doing anything to protest the measures.Organizers say they aren’t discouraged, though, and believe some athletes still may speak out before the games are over.“We think athlete voices are still powerful in this debate,” said Andre Banks, executive director of AllOut, one of the groups protesting the laws. “But at the end of the day it’s up t

More SportsFeb. 17, 2014

So far silence from Olympians on Russia’s anti-gay laws

Bubba Watson ends 2-year winless drought at Riviera

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Bubba Watson wasn’t about to let another chance get away.Two weeks after Watson made a pair of late bogeys in the Phoenix Open, he delivered the best closing round at Riviera in some three decades. Watson played the final 39 holes without a bogey and shot a 7-under 64 on Sunday to win the Northern Trust Open.It was his first victory in 22 months and 41 tournaments worldwide dating to the 2012 Masters.Watson wound up with a two-shot victory over Dustin Johnson, who closed with

GolfFeb. 17, 2014

Bubba Watson ends 2-year winless drought at Riviera

Yoon passes Orioles’ physical, deal becomes official: reports

South Korean pitcher Yoon Suk-min has passed the physical with the Baltimore Orioles, making his multiyear deal with the Major League Baseball club official, U.S. reports said on Sunday.MLB Daily Dish, citing a source with knowledge of the situation, said the South Korean right-hander has cleared the physical and the deal will be announced in the coming days.The Orioles haven’t made an official announcement of Yoon’s signing, which was first reported on Thursday, but the team has scheduled a pre

BaseballFeb. 17, 2014

U.S., Canada, Russia hockey teams win

SOCHI, Russia (AP) ― While the United States and Canada finished up preliminary-round play without a defeat Sunday, Russia survived a bit more drama to keep on rolling in the Olympic men’s hockey tournament.The U.S. beat Slovenia 5-1 to finish group play with three victories and the No. 2 seed in the quarterfinals. The Americans were arguably the most impressive team in the preliminary round, and Phil Kessel had a hat trick in their latest win.Canada also won three times in the prelims, but had

Olympic GamesFeb. 17, 2014

Gov't to launch audit into skating governing body over alleged corruption

The government will launch an audit into the national skating governing body over allegations of corruption and factional feuds after the end of the ongoing Winter Games, a senior sports official said Monday, as questions have been raised on the circumstances surrounding a South Korean-born athlete's switching allegiances to Russia."After the Sochi Winter Olympics ends (on Sunday), we will review the entire system at the Korea Skating Union (KSU) to see if there had been any corruption or feuds

More SportsFeb. 17, 2014

‘I am not going back to Korea’: Viktor Ahn

Viktor Ahn of Russia, whose Korean name is Ahn Hyun-soo, won the gold medal in men’s 1,000 meters short-track speed skating at the Sochi Olympics on Saturday. His gold for Russia is thrilling the Olympic host nation, while heightening Korean fans’ interest in his next move after the winter sports festival.　“I am so pleased and it is like a dream that I have reclaimed a medal after eight years,” Ahn told the press conference shortly after acquiring the first gold in the sport for his adopted co

Olympic GamesFeb. 17, 2014

‘I am not going back to Korea’: Viktor Ahn

Viktor Ahn’s father vents painful feelings

When Russia’s Viktor Ahn won gold in men’s 1,000-meter short-track skating, outshining his former teammate Sin Da-woon of Korea on the ice on Saturday night, his father had mixed feelings about his victory.　“It is painful that Ahn is sharing his joy with Russians, not Koreans,” Ahn Gi-won told the Korean news agency Yonhap. 　The mostly Russian crowd at Iceberg Skating Palace erupted in celebration as Ahn crossed the finish line. The gold medalist waved the Russian flag on his victory lab and san

Olympic GamesFeb. 17, 2014

Viktor Ahn’s father vents painful feelings

Day of hope, disappointment for S. Korea in Sochi

It was a day mixed with hope and disappointment for South Korea at the Sochi Winter Olympics, as female curlers vowed to work harder for a better future, and the men's bobsleigh teams took an important step forward.South Korea didn't add to its medal tally on Sunday, however, and remains at one gold, one silver and one bronze medal, good for 17th place.The women's curling team faces elimination from its first Olympic tournament, after losing to Denmark 7-3. The defeat dropped South Korea's recor

Olympic GamesFeb. 17, 2014

Day of hope, disappointment for S. Korea in Sochi

Figure skater Kim Yu-na feels Sochi ice conditions 'better than expected'

Following her first practice on Sunday at the venue for the figure skating competition at the Sochi Winter Games, South Korean star Kim Yu-na said ice conditions there shouldn't present problems.Kim skated for the first time at Iceberg Skating Palace, where she will try to defend her gold medal in the ladies' singles. The short program is scheduled for Wednesday, and the free skating will follow the next day.Kim arrived in Sochi last Thursday and trained for two days at a practice rink before re

More SportsFeb. 16, 2014

Karrie Webb wins Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Karrie Webb won the Women’s Australian Open for the fifth time Sunday, shooting a 4-under 68 in the final round to beat Chella Choi by one stroke.Webb birdied the 18th hole to take the outright lead, then watched as Choi, who shot a course-record 62 on Saturday to take a share of the third-round lead, pushed a 10-foot putt wide of the hole at 18 to miss the chance for a playoff.Webb, who clinched her 40th LPGA title, finished at 12-under 276 overall. She previously w

GolfFeb. 16, 2014

Man City beats Chelsea, reaches FA Cup quarters

MANCHESTER, England (AP) ― Manchester City powered forward with ease into the FA Cup quarterfinals on Saturday, overcoming Premier League title rival Chelsea 2-0 to maintain its quadruple chase.Stevan Jovetic and Samir Nasri provided the goals to avenge a 1-0 league loss this month, with a formidable City in complete control and preventing Chelsea from hitting the target once.“We can beat everyone,” Jovetic said. “We learnt something (from losing to Chelsea), you could see that on the pitch.”Alt

SoccerFeb. 16, 2014

Bobsledders seek to add to Cinderella story

South Korean bobsledders will try to add a new chapter to their Cinderella story, as the two-man competition opens on Sunday.South Korea made its Olympic bobsleigh debut in Vancouver four years ago, with just one team in the four-man event in action.This year, pilots Won Yun-jong and Kim Dong-hyun have qualified for both the two-man and the four-man events. It's a remarkable progress for a country that doesn't even have a proper track.Won led his two-man team to the overall North American Cup ti

Olympic GamesFeb. 16, 2014

(Olympics) medal standings

Below are the medal standings for the top 10 countries at the Sochi Winter Olympics through Saturday.Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total 1 Germany 7 3 2 12 2 Switzerland 5 1 1 7 3 Russia 4 6 5 15 4 Canada 4 5 3 12 5 Netherlands 4 4 6 14 6 United States 4

Olympic GamesFeb. 16, 2014

[Newsmaker] Viktor Ahn calls defection 'right choice'

With his first Olympic gold medal for his adopted Russia around his neck, Viktor Ahn, the short track star born as Ahn Hyun-soo in South Korea, said he made "the right choice" in switching allegiances.Ahn captured the men's 1,000m gold medal on Saturday at Iceberg Skating Palace. It was Russia's first Olympic gold in short track. Earlier, Ahn had won the bronze in the 1,500m.The 1,000m title was Ahn's fourth career gold medal, making him the most decorated male short tracker in Olympic history."

Olympic GamesFeb. 16, 2014

[Newsmaker] Viktor Ahn calls defection 'right choice'

Youth well served as teenagers excel in short track, skeleton

Youth was well served for South Korea at the Sochi Winter Games on Saturday, as the 17-year-old short tracker Shim Suk-hee claimed the silver medal in the women's 1,500 meters and Yun Sung-bin, 19, posted the country's best result ever in men's skeleton.Shim's silver was South Korea's third medal in Sochi, and second from short track. She was leading the race until Zhou Yang of China charged out in front with two laps remaining and held on to the lead to win her second straight gold medal in the

Olympic GamesFeb. 16, 2014

Viktor Ahn wins gold in 1,000m short track

Viktor Ahn won the gold medal in the men's 1,000 metres short track speed skating at the Sochi Winter Olympics on Saturday, leading a Russian one-two in one of the sport's premier events.Competing for his adopted country Russia, Ahn reclaimed the title he last won for South Korea in Turin eight years ago, leading almost all the way in the five-man final.Vladimir Grigorev, also of Russia, won the silver medal while the bronze went to Sjinkie Knegt of the Netherlands at the Iceberg Skating Palace.

Olympic GamesFeb. 15, 2014

Viktor Ahn wins gold in 1,000m short track

Short tracker Shim Suk-hee wins silver in women's 1,500 meters

South Korean teenage short tracker Shim Suk-hee won the silver medal in the women's 1,500ｍ at the Sochi Winter Olympics on Saturday. The 17-year-old earned her first Olympic medal at Iceberg Skating Palace, finishing behind Zhou Yang of China. Arianna Fontana of Italy grabbed the bronze. Zhou defended her Olympic gold in 2:19.140, while Shim clocked at 2:19.239 followed by Fontana at 2:19.416. A second South Korean in the final, Kim A-lang, was penalized for her role in a collision with Li

Olympic GamesFeb. 15, 2014

Short tracker Shim Suk-hee wins silver in women's 1,500 meters

Three S. Koreans reach short track finals

Two South Korean female short trackers advanced to the finals in the 1,500ｍ race, while one man also reached the finals in the 1,000ｍ event at the Sochi Winter Olympics on Saturday. In the women's 1,500ｍ, Shim Suk-hee and Kim A-lang made it outof the semifinals at Iceberg Skating Palace. Cho Ha-ri failed toreach the finals after being disqualified for pushing off anotherskater. In the men's 1,000ｍ, Sin Da-woon also moved on to the finals. In the women's semis, 19 skaters were paired into two

Olympic GamesFeb. 15, 2014