SHORT TRACK SKATING: After a dream opening to his debut Olympic campaign – quickly followed by crushing disappointment – Brendan Corey says he's ready for redemption when he takes to the ice for the men's 500m short track heats.
The Canadian-born Aussie got his Olympics off to a flyer, when he blitzed through the heats of the men’s 1000m with a staggering pace that set a new Australian Record.
But a brave attempt to overtake a competitor in the final lap of the quarter-finals saw him wipe out.
“In hindsight I wish I hadn’t done that – of course, but I don’t regret going for it,” Brendan said.
“At least I didn’t miss out by sitting back and just hoping for the best.”
Now he returns for a second chance.
“The 500m event is not my favourite but I’m going to really push myself and give this everything. The thing about short track is you just never know what can happen on the day, so I’m definitely not ruling myself out.”
Brendan has a difficult start – skating from position four in the second group. The 500m event is the shortest of all races, meaning he has little time to jostle for position and move forward in the pack.
“It’s going to be a fight for me to get through to the quarter-finals – I know that. In the 500 metre race you have less time for strategy and less time to think. You really just have to go all out from the start, and that’s what I intend to do.”
Favourites to win the event include China’s Wu Dajing, who claimed silver in the event at Sochi 2014. South Korea’s Seo Yi-Ra is the reigning world champion.
Still, being the underdog doesn’t bother Brendan one bit.
“Being a favourite doesn’t really mean anything in our sport because it only takes one slip, one mistake and it’s all over for you.
“In the end this is a sport with no guarantees, and truly anything can happen. I just have to stick to my plan and fight as hard as I can. The outcome will take care of itself.”
The first men's 500m heat starts at 10:18pm AEDT. Brendan Corey will be on in heat two.
Katherine Firkin
