Boutin starts her season at the top, Victor An gets two medals on his comeback

The first medals of the 2019-2020 World Cup season in short track were awarded today in Salt Lake City.

By Jackob Savard

Photo: Schaats Foto's

Today was the 500m (1), 1500m and mixed relay final rounds as well as the relay semifinals.

Valcepina wins the first 500m of the season

The first 500m final of the season included Hungarian Petra Jaszapati, Italian Martina Valcepina, Polish Natalia Maliszewska and Dutch Yara van Kerkhof. Martina Valcepina had a solid start from the third starting lane, reached first position quickly and never looked back. Yara van Kerkhof finished second and Petra Jaszapati third.

Strong showing by Hwang in the men’s 500m

Reigning 500m World champion from Korea Hwang Dae Heon led the 500m (1) A final from start to finish to claim his first gold medal of the season. Finishing second was Victor An who won a medal in his first distance back on the international circuit with an impressive pass at the end of the race. Hungarian Liu Shaoang finished third.

Boutin in control on 1500m 

Canadian Kim Boutin won the 1500m A final by moving well in the pack all race long. She made her final move by the outside on Suzanne Schulting with one lap to go. World Champion Schulting finished second and Chinese Han Yutong third.

Russian double on 1500m

Russian Semen Elistratov raced to victory in the 1500m A final while his teammate Alexander Shulginov took bronze medal. Korean Kim Dong Wook took the silver medal. Veteran Charles Hamelin finished in fourth place.

Victor An leads Russia to victory in the mixed relay 

Victor An executed a spectacular inside pass in the last lap of the mixed relay to lead Russia to gold on the distance. Team China and team Korea completed the podium.

After the semifinals, Korea, Canada, China and the Netherlands will be represented in the ladies’ 3000m relay final. In the men’s relay, it will be the Canadians, the Koreans, the Dutch, and the Russians who will skate the A final.

For our recap of day 1, click HERE

For the full results, click HERE

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