Australian short track star Tatiana Borodulina has qualified for the 1000m quarter finals in emphatic fashion, winning her heat in a time of 1:32.509.

Borodulina beat out Mika Ozawa of Japan and Italian Cecilia Maffei in a tight competition. Liesbeth Mau Asam of the Netherlands was disqualified.

Borodulina has had a tough Games so far by her own admission after getting knocked out in a tough heat of her marquee event, the 500m and finishing 11th in the 1500m.

“I’m really happy with the race, my tactics were to be in the first two,” said the 25-year-old.

“I gave it my best and was happy with what happened.

“1000m races are run just like 500ms now. It’s very difficult to pass so my strategy was to be in the first two and just hold on from there. I knew I didn’t have to save myself for any other races tonight.”

The Brisbane local faces an exciting quarter final matchup against two medallists from the 500m - Gold medal winner Wang Meng of China and Italian Arianna Fontana who took out the bronze.

First-time Olympian Paula Bzura of Poland is the fourth competitor in the race.

Quarter final action commences on Friday February 26th at 6.15pm Vancouver time.

Tom Read
AOC - Vancouver