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The One and OnLEE

February 11, 2014

Lee Sang-hwa delivers the first and only medal for Korea in Sochi 

Sets two Olympic records to win second straight gold medal

Lee Sang-hwa successfully defended her Olympic title. (Yonhap)

Lee Sang-hwa successfully defended her Olympic title. (Yonhap)

Lee Sang-hwa's parents are overjoyed by their daughter's win. (Yonhap)

Lee Sang-hwa’s parents are overjoyed by their daughter’s win. (Yonhap)

She can’t be denied. South Korean speed skater Lee Sang-hwa continued her domination of women’s 500 meter speed skate, crushing the competition to win her second straight gold medal.

The 24-year old ‘Beast from the Far East’ put together two blistering races to successfully defend her Olympic title in Sochi Tuesday. She led after the opening heat and went even faster the second time around the big oval, to set two Olympic records.

In the two-race competition at Adler Arena Skating Center, Lee had a combined time of 74.70 seconds, a new Olympic record and 0.36 second faster than the runner-up, Olga Fatkulina of Russia. Margot Boer of the Netherlands took the bronze with 75.48 seconds combined.

Lee’s second run of 37.28 seconds also beat the mark of 37.30 set by Catriona Le May Doan at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.