Reigning Olympic 1,500-metre champion Apolo Anton Ohno of the United States and three-time world champion Ahn Hyun-Soo of South Korea lead a Winter Olympic short-track speedskating rivalry so hot it could melt the Italian ice.

The 23-year-old American short track speedskater will defend a controversial gold medal from the 2002 Games, one that sparked anger and death threats from South Korea, and compete in three other events.

In the 2002 1,500m final, South Korea's Kim Dong-Sung crossed the line first but was disqualified for blocking, a decision that sparked threats and a newspaper calling Ohno "the most hated athlete in South Korea".

"It bothered me a lot," Ohno said of the controversy. "During Salt Lake City I was really bothered by it. I didn't let it defeat me."

Korean coach Lee Chi-Sang threw down the gauntlet by saying he expects a Korean victory in the 1,500m.

"I hope we will win at least two gold medals," Lee said. "I cannot tell you the names right now. It's a secret. But I expect we'll win the 1,500m, ladies' and men's, and the 1,000m either ladies' or men's."

When it comes to golden dreams, Lee looks for help from a higher power.

"We focus on skating technique, weightlifting and praying to Buddha," he said. "All the people do their best but for the gold I think we need God's help."

The Americans stopped by to watch a Korean practice, with US coach Li Yan saying familiarity breeds friendship.

"We're just trying to get to know other teams better," Li said. "Korea is very strong and they practice very hard and with a different apporach than us. They are very traditional. This has been part of their culture forever."

In a sport where one mis-step can bring disqualification or send a skater skidding away from the oval and out of contention, Ohno thrives on the mental and physical challenge of the sport.

Triple world champion Ahn also should contend for gold at 1,000m, where Ohno edged him for the 2005 world title, and 500m, where he won the World Cup. Lee Ho-Suk should challenge as well after a strong World Cup season.

China's Li Jiajun, a world champion and four-time Olympic medalist still seeking gold, is a 500m threat in his China-record fourth Games and already talking about staying around for 2010 in Vancouver.

"Of course the best thing would be to win the gold but even getting the silver like last time would be enough," Li said. "

Koreans own the world relay crown but Canadians seek their third Olympic relay gold in a row.

Kang Yun-Mi and Jin Sun-Yu lead Korea's Olympic repeat bid in the women's relay, but Canada, led by Alanna Kraus, won last year's world relay title and China, last year's world runner-up led by Yang Yang (A), will contend as well.

Reigning 500m and 1,500m world champion Jin was second at 1,000m while Kang was in the top three in all three events at the 2005 worlds.

Yang will attempt to defend her historic 500m and 1,000m golds, China's first Winter Olympic titles.

"I am feeling a lot less pressure than last time because I won the first gold medal for my country at Salt Lake," Yang said. "I was the only one in the delegation expected to win a medal. I had everyone's hopes.

"This time there are more Chinese skaters and skiers. I'm not the only one. And I have already won."

China's Wang Meng won World Cup crowns at 500m and 1,000m and will contend for gold in both events. She was also third at last year's worlds at 1,500m after finishing second the year before.

"I'm happy to be competing. It's a better atmosphere than what I would have thought. I hope my country will win a gold medal but I don't care if it is me or somebody else."

On the long track, the Dutch men and German women are favorites.

Reigning 500m world champion and world record-holder Joji Kato of Japan will try to improve upon compatriot Hiroyasu Shimizu's silver-medal effort from 2002 against defending champion Casey FitzRandolph and Canada's Jeremy Wotherspoon.
Dutchman Jan Bos, twice a 1,000m runner-up, goes for gold against Shani Davis, the 2005 all-round champion, and Chad Hedrick, who will attempt to match the 1980 US record of Eric Heiden with five speedskate golds in a single Games.

Reigning 10,000m world champion Bob de Jong and 2004 world 10,000m champion Carl Verheijen are a double Dutch threat for gold.

German Claudia Pechstein seeks an unprecedented fourth consecutive Olympic 5,000m gold. Only American Bonnie Blair has matched her three titles in a row but the 500m feat came with a two-year gap between Albertville and Lillehammer.

World 5,000m champion Anni Friesinger could foil compatriot Pechstein, who also won 3,000m gold at Salt Lake City. Friesinger also won 2002 Olympic gold at 1,500m and was second at 1,000m in last year's worlds.

China's Wang Manli is the reigning 500m world champion, having edged China's Wang Beixing. Japan's Tomomi Okazaki, Sayuri Osuga and Sayuri Yoshii should contend along with American Jennifer Rodriguez, a 2002 double medalist.

Jim Slater

AFP