Olympic Short Track Analysis
Oh, what a night
TURIN, Italy – Oh, yes.
The look on Apolo Anton Ohno's face said it all – certainly surprise, plus a good measure of ecstasy.
The soul-patched one, who flies around the short track on golden skates, won what most likely will be the final two medals of the Turin Olympics for the U.S. Saturday night.
Ohno was nothing short of brilliant in winning gold in the men's 500 meters in a wire-to-wire upset, an incredible accomplishment in a full-throttle sport known for spectacular wipeouts and a fair amount of disqualifications.
"I've been searching my entire career for the perfect race and that was it," Ohno said.
Not quite an hour later, it was Ohno who powered past an Italian skater on the second-to-last lap of the wacky 5,000-meter relay, a true roller derby-on-ice, to give the U.S. the bronze medal.
This was the kind of performance Ohno came to Turin for.
Incredibly, he led the whole way in the 500, and there wasn't a whiff of controversy.
After two skaters were whistled for false starts, Ohno timed the gun perfectly and raced to the front. His rival, South Korean Ahn Hyun-soo, was favored to win, but got caught behind two Canadians shortly after the start and had no chance at overtaking Ohno.
"I was in the moment at the time," Ohno said. "I thought I timed the start just perfect. The starter had been pretty quick all day, so that's why there were so many false starts at the beginning. But that was really good for me."
The American stayed ahead in a race that isn't his specialty.
As he crossed the finish line, Ohno raised his hands and hollered. He hugged family and friends along the rink, pumped his fists and played to the crowd. Someone threw him an American flag, which he unfurled during a victory lap.
Ohno couldn't quite explain what was going through his mind at the finish.
"I just can't. Just emotion. So much emotion and passion. Everything was running through my body. It was crazy."
Ohno became a star at Salt Lake City four years ago when he won gold and silver medals in races that will always be remembered for their controversy and calamity.
He remains in the firmament. These were his second and third medals of the Turin Games. He also won the bronze a week earlier in the 1,000.
Canadian Francois-Louis Tremblay won the silver in the 500, and Ahn took the bronze.
Ohno "raced really well and everything he did out there was just perfect," Tremblay said.
In the nightcap, the freak show known as the 5,000 relay, Ohno came through again. Sitting with his teammates at a post-race news conference, Ohno said: "These guys can say they are Olympic medalists for life, and that's special."
While Ohno celebrated, American Kimberly Derrick had a somber night. A day after her 74-year-old grandfather died after suffering a heart attack while attending the Olympics, Derrick was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 1,000 meters.
"This was the most emotional day of my life," she said. "I'm proud to be at the Olympics and at the same time, my heart hurts so much. I knew I had to race because that's what my grandfather would want me to do. When I got onto the ice I was overcome by emotions, but I knew I had to race."
Ohno, meanwhile, was noncommittal about his future. By the time Vancouver rolls around in 2010, he'll be 27.
The big reason Ohno remains so successful is because he sacrifices having a normal life in order to train and compete. Despite his fame, he continues to live in a dorm at the U.S. Olympic training center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
"I'm 23 years old. I like to have a social life, and that's pretty much out the window when it comes to an Olympic year," Ohno said. "The things you give up, this is the reason why. Everything goes into this.
"Days like this, you hope it lasts an eternity."
AP sports writer Bernie Wilson is covering the Olympics exclusively for Yahoo! Sports.
Updated on Saturday, Feb 25, 2006 7:43 pm, EST