China break Korea's relay dominance with 3000m gold

From Sportsbeat staff, in Vancouver

 CHINA broke South Korea's dominance of the 3000m short track Olympic title with a new world record in Vancouver - but only after their arch rivals were disqualified at the Pacific Coliseum.

GOLDEN GIRLS: China's 3000m relay team take gold after Korea are disqualified in Vancouver (Getty Images)

The Chinese quartet of Meng Wang, the individual champion over 500m, Yang Zhou, who scooped 1500m gold, LinLin Sun and Hui Zhang romped home in 4:06.610 minutes to clinch gold.

"First of all, I would like to thank my teammates. It took a group effort to win this medal, we had the Chinese spirit of persistence," said Wang.

"We came here with the wisdom of our culture and the hope of our country."

Korea thought they had won a fifth consecutive relay title, crossing the line first, only to be disqualified after bumping China's Sun and impeding them - handing their fierce rivals gold.

"When that happened, I was skating normally," said Sun. "She tried to make a pass and there was an impediment collision, and we respect the decision of the judges."

That in turn handed silver to the Canadian quartet of Jessica Gregg, Kalyna Roberge, Marianne St Gelais, who takes her second silver in Vancouver, having finished second to Wang in the 500m, and Tania Vincent.

They came crossed the line third, well ahead of the American foursome of Allison Baver, Alyson Dudek, Lana Gehring and Katherine Reutter, who had earlier set a new Olympic record in 1000m qualifying.

The USA quartet were well off the pace, but courtesy of South Korea's disqualification, they were handed a surprise bronze medal.  

 

AS IT HAPPENS: Day 13 of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver