16-time world champion Wang tatters Olympic dream in tears

When Chinese skater Wang Manli was speeding through the finish line, she realized that her life dream of winning an Olympic gold medal eclipsed at the Turin Winter Olympics on Tuesday.

Wang, China's 16-time world champion, finished the women's 500m speed skating in second by 0.21 seconds behind arch rival Svetlana Zhurova of Russia.

With head lowered and eyes full of tears, Wang tried to hold herself together to face the media. But the very first question drove her tears down.

"I feel regretful that I didn't get the gold. But I'm happy with the silver," she said, trying in vain to cover the sorrow with smile.

"It's not because of my injury. The reason (for not winning god) is very complicated. Everybody has pressure, but my pressure just didn't turn into strength ..."

Feeding one question after another, Wang was struggling to remain composed. For a second, she looked helpless to her interpreter, whispering "please don't ask more, I can't do it now. "

Her cover-up was completely broken down when a reporter tried to comfort her by saying that she believed Wang would do better in the future. Wiping tears with napkins in her trembling hands, Wang looked totally heartbroken.

Wang, the four-time Olympic veteran, has been yearning for an Olympic triumph. Her domination in the event over the last three seasons made everybody, including herself, believe she would have the chance to step onto the highest podium in Turin.

She enjoyed a World Cup victory not long ago in Turin's Oval Lingotto at a time of 38.25 seconds.

"I have won all the medals that I can win over the 20 years, except for an Olympic gold," Wang said before coming to Turin. "I won't miss the chance this time."

But this time Wang lost the race to herself.

She ranked second after race one in 38.31 seconds, 0.08 seconds behind Zhurova. Their difference was further widened after race two, in which Wang finished at a time of 38.47 seconds and Zhurova 38.34.

Wang said her defeat was due to her mind.

"She (Zhurova) is mentally stronger than me. We are equal (in terms of competitiveness). We skated on the same rink. I lost the race due to my weak mental strength," Wang recollected herself after a moment of emotion release.

When asked whether she would retire with an Olympic silver, the 33-year-old said she was pretty emotional and hasn't thought about it at the moment.

Sitting side by side with Wang, gold medallist Zhurova smiled happily. She patted on Wang's shoulder to show her sympathy.

"I am really sorry for her. She skated very fast in recent years. She could have won the gold. The second place is always a sad position. It's very close to the gold," the Russian said.

Wang started skating at the age of 10. In 2004, she was awarded the Golden Skate by the International Skating Union.

Aged at 33, Wang is one of the oldest among the Chinese athletes in the Turin Winter Olympic Games. It was widely believed that Turin would be her last Olympics.

Source: Xinhua