The third event of the 2008-09 Samsung ISU World Cup Short Track season was held this weekend in Beijing, China at the Beijing Capital Gymnasium. The facility was recently used this past summer as the venue for the volleyball events at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.
The Chinese team took advantage of skating on home soil, and dominated the weekend with an impressive tally of 12 medals. The Korean and Canadian teams showed their competitive form with the Korean team earning 8 medals, while the Canadian team earned 6 medals. The other teams to leave Beijing with medals this weekend were the United States (2 medals), Australia (1 medal), and Italy (1 medal).
This weekend’s Samsung ISU World Cup Short Track schedule had the athletes compete in the 500 meters distance twice. Both of the ladies 500 meters events were dominated by the Chinese skaters, who took five out of a possible six podium finishes. In winning the first 500 meter event, Meng Wang of China also set a new world record in the distance; a record that she previously held. Her teammate Qiuhong Liu finished second, ahead of Tatiana Borodulina, earning Australia its first World Cup medal of the season.
In the second of the ladies 500 meters event, it was a podium sweep from the Chinese skaters: Qiuhong Liu took the win, Tian Yu Fu finished second and Nannan Zhao in third.
The ladies 1000 meters event was won by Weng Mang of China, earning her a second top place finish for the weekend. Yang Zhou of China was second, while Sae-Bom Shin of Korea finished third.
In the ladies 1500 meters event, Eun-Ju Jung (Korea) and Yang Zhou (China) swapped podium positions from the previous World Cup event in Vancouver. Eun-Ju Jung took the win this time with Yang Zhou finishing second. Allison Baver (United States) completed the podium.
The weekend concluded with the relay events. The woman’s relay was another battle between China and Korea. Cheered on by the home crowd, the Chinese team took the win ahead of Korea. Third place went to the Italians.
The next ISU Short Track event heads over to yet another Olympic city, as the Samsung ISU World Cup Short Track resumes in Nagano, Japan on December 5-7, 2008.
Samsung ISU World Cup Short Track – Beijing (CHN)
Top 3 Results by Category
Ladies 500m Day 1
| | Name of athlete | Nation |
| 1 | WANG, Meng | CHN |
| 2 | LIU, Qiuhong | CHN |
| 3 | BORODULINA, Tatiana | AUS |
Ladies 500m Day 2
| | Name of athlete | Nation |
| 1 | LIU, Qiuhong | CHN |
| 2 | FU, Tian Yu | CHN |
| 3 | ZHAO, Nannan | CHN |
Ladies 10000m
| | Name of athlete | Nation |
| 1 | WANG, Meng | CHN |
| 2 | ZHOU, Yang | CHN |
| 3 | SHIN, Sae-Bom | KOR |
Ladies 1500m
| | Name of athlete | Nation |
| 1 | JUNG, Eun-Ju | KOR |
| 2 | ZHOU, Yang | CHN |
| 3 | BAVER, Allison | USA |
Ladies Relay
| | Nation |
| 1 | CHINA |
| 2 | KOREA |
| 3 | ITALY |
2008-12-01
