SPEED SKATING: There’ll be no holding back for Andy Jung when he returns to the ice for his 500m race tonight.

The Korean born skater has a clear goal in mind for his pet event, and he promises to leave nothing in the tank.

“My goal is at least a bronze medal,” Jung said. “I love this event and I love the venue so I’m just going to go for it now.”

The 20-year-old made it through to the semi-final of his opening event, the 1500m, in a dramatic contest which saw him advanced by the judges, after it was ruled he’d been disadvantaged by a collision between other skaters.

“I learnt a lot from that first race,” Jung said. “I was a bit late to make my move in the semi-final and now I know I just have to go for it from the very start.”

“I prefer the shorter distance races anyway, because there is less strategy and you just have to give it one-hundred-per cent from the gun. So I’m really excited.”

And, in a sport that’s often compared to roller derby due to the rough and tumble of the play, Jung admits it’s the thrill of the chase, that keeps him motivated.

“It’s hard to describe how it feels but you just feel like you’re going so fast,” he said. “When you take a corner really fast you can feel your whole blade vibrate, and there’s this moment when your head will be like ‘am I going to keep standing or is this it?’ And that’s such a fun feeling.”

Jung will need a top three finish in his heat to move through to the semi-finals, where a spot in the medal final will be up for grabs.

Katherine Firkin
olympics.com.au