Wang Beixing was considered the forgotten woman of China's speed skating circuit after finishing a disappointing eighth at last year's Turin Winter Olympic Games and returning overseas to train.

But she found herself in the spotlight yesterday as she smashed the Asian record to claim gold in the 500m final of the sixth Asian Winter Games.

She clocked a record 38.02 seconds in the first race, and won by a two-race combined total of one minute and 16.10 seconds, beating South Korea's Lee Sang-hwa, a five-time World Cup winner this season. China's Zhang Shuang finished third.
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"I was in good form today and I performed very well," said the 21-year-old.

Skipping the World Sprint Speed Skating Championships, Wang instead devoted herself to preparations for the Winter Asiad, which was expected to be a turning point in her career.

"Everybody forgot about Wang at the beginning of the year because we were preparing for this. This is a big competition. We prepared for this from the summer time," said her Canadian coach Kevin Crockett. "I think she believes in herself. She was ready. She was very enthusiastic to come back to China, show China she was going to win the gold medal. She did it.

"This is a very high point in her career. We felt a lot of pressure. Today is a defining moment in her career," he added.

Picking up skating at the age of eight, Wang is among the first group of Chinese skaters sent to train in Calgary, Canada, in 2003.

Working with foreign coaches for more than three years, Wang said she has gained a lot from her training abroad.

"My coach is a former speed skater and he trained in both Holland and Canada, so he has a combined training concept, which is very suitable for me," said Wang.

Crockett, 32, was a successful skater himself, winning bronze in the men's 500m race at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympic Games.

Under his coaching, Wang has improved steadily.

Before training in Canada Wang was barely able to reach the top eight in national competitions, but now she is aiming to be the very best in the world.

In 2005, she won the silver medal at the World Speed Skating Championships. The same year, she finished first at the 500m race in the World Cup series, US stop. This season she came third in the World Cup series Harbin stop.

In her coach's eyes, Wang has what it takes to be a winner.

"There is no weakness with Wang. She is overall very very strong - everywhere, mind and body," said Crockett. "She is still very young, so I think she still needs experience. That's normal for a young skater."

"My next goal is the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games," said Wang. "I hope to achieve good results there, realizing the gold dream of the Chinese people."

(China Daily January 31, 2007)