Mar 10

Lana Gehring Wins 500m Bronze at World Championships

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SHANGHAI, China (March 10, 2012) - Lana Gehring (Glenview, Ill.) won bronze for Team USA today in the ladies 500m. It was Team USA’s first podium in the 500m distance since Bonnie Blair won a 500m gold at the 1986 World Championships.

“I couldn't be happier right now, I never thought I would get a bronze in the 500m, that's out of nowhere for me. It was my first win in the 500m this season and I just had fun and ended up on top. I had a slow day yesterday, but I definitely came back today strong and I'm very happy,” said Gehring.

“I started off a little sluggish today, and as each round went on I was focusing on just trying my best and I didn't really have any expectations. During the races today, I was trying to slow my mental down so I could get as much power out of each stroke and really come up with a plan and not rush too much so I could make the best move as possible at the right time. I think that really helped me in the semifinal and the final,” added Gehring.

Gehring swiftly progressed through today’s 500m rounds, with an exceptional semifinal race, taking the lead with 1.5 laps to go to win with a time of 44.373 and advancing to the finals. In the final round, Gehring skated to 3rd with a time of (44.815), behind Kexin Fan (CHN), the defending 500m World Champion, winning with a time of 44.438, and Italy’s Arianna Fontana in 2nd posting 44.467.

Defending 500m World Champion Simon Cho (Laurel, MD) and Jordan Malone (Denton TX) made it through today’s early 500m rounds to the semifinals.  In the semifinals, Cho was penalized for impeding with one lap to go, and Malone finished 4th in his semifinal heat with  a time of 42.964. 

World Cup Champion Olivier Jean (CAN) won the 500m World Championship title winning today’s final with a time of 41.077, followed by Charles Hamelin (CAN) in 2nd with 41.035, and Yoon-Gy Kwak (KOR) in 3rd (41.479).

Team USA’s men (Cho, Malone, J.R. Celski (Federal Way, MD), and Kyle Carr (Peachtree City, GA) skated today’s 5000m Relay seminfinal in a tough race facing Netherlands, Korea and China, Team USA received a penalty for impeding and did not advance to tomorrow’s finals.

Extended results from today’s races are available at http://www.sportresult.com/federations/ISU/ShortTrack/. World Championship racing concludes in Shanghai tomorrow with the ladies and men’s 1000m, Relay and 3000m Superfinals. Racing begins at 10am (China Standard Time).