Hyun-Soo Ahn

Hyun-Soo Ahn began skating when he was in primary school. Although he skated for pleasure, his aim was still to improve all the time. It was while watching the victories of his compatriots Jee-Hoon Chae and Dong-Sung Kim on television at the Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer in 1994 and Nagano in 1998 that Ahn thought that he, too, could become a great short track speed skater.

Ahn’s first Olympic participation was at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games. His best performance was a fourth place in the 1,000 metres. During that race, he was among the skaters caught up in a collective fall on the final turn. This enabled Australian Steven Bradbury, who had been in last place, to win the gold. Ahn was then disqualified from the 1,500 metre and 5,000 metre team events. Despite leaving Salt Lake City without a medal, he subsequently won four consecutive world championship titles.

By the time he arrived at the Torino 2006 Winter Games the South Korean skater was among the favourites. The first men’s race on the program was the 1,500 metres. Ahn won his heat, the semi-final and the final ahead of teammate Ho-Suk Lee, as well as China’s Jia Jun Li, winning his first Olympic gold medal.  

Six days later, Ahn competed in the 1,000 metres. Again, he dominated the final and took his second Olympic title. It was another one-two for South Korea, with a second silver medal for Suk Lee. The bronze was won by American skater Apolo Ohno.

Following that win, in the men’s 5,000 metre relay, South Korea beat Canada and the USA. Partnered by Se-Jong Oh, Ho-Suk Lee, Ho-Jin Seo and Suk-Woo Song, Ahn stood on the top step of the podium for the third time at these Games. Forty-five minutes before, he had competed in the final of the 500 metres and suffered his only defeat in Torino, finishing third behind Canada’s silver medallist François-Louis Tremblay and Olympic champion Apolo Ohno. 

With four medals, three of them gold, Hyun-Soo Ahn is South Korea’s most successful Olympic athlete.