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Disappointing start

February 8, 2014

Korea’s ‘leadoff hitter’ Lee Seung-hoon finishes 12th in men’s 5,000m  

For U.S., Sage Kotsenburg delivers first gold in men’s snowboard slopestyle

Lee Seung-hoon shows his disappointment. He still has a chance to defend his Olympic title in 10,000 meters. (Yonhap)

Lee Seung-hoon shows his disappointment. He still has a chance to defend his Olympic title in 10,000 meters. (Yonhap)

South Korea’s ‘leadoff hitter’ Lee Seung-hoon finished a disappointing 12th in the men’s speed skating 5,000 meters at the Sochi Winter Olympics on Saturday.

At Adler Arena Skating Center, Lee finished the race in 6:25.61, coming up well short of winning his second straight Olympic medal in the event. At the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, Lee won the silver medal for South Korea’s first medal there.

Lee will try to defend his Olympic title in the 10,000ｍ on Feb. 18. He’s also slated to compete in the team pursuit event on Feb. 21.

Sven Kramer of the Netherlands captured his second straight gold medal with an Olympic record time of 6:10.76. He led the Dutch sweep of the podium, with compatriots Jan Blokhuijsen taking the silver in 6:15.71 and Jorrit Bergsma grabbing the bronze in 6:16.66.

Another South Korean, Kim Cheol-min, finished 24th among 26 skaters in 6:37.29.

For the United States, 20-year old Sage Kotsenburg delivered the country’s first gold medal in men’s snowboard slopestyle.