Ohno's 7th Medal Breaks US Record

Overcomes rare misstep to grab bronze; two more chances remain
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Feb 21, 2010 5:52 AM CST
Ohno's 7th Medal Breaks US Record
USA's Apolo Anton Ohno, center back, crosses the finish line in third to win bronze in the men's 1000m finals short track skating competition, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010.   (Amy Sancetta)

Apolo Anton Ohno made history the hard way, overcoming a rare mistake that dropped him to last place before rallying to earn his record seventh Olympic medal. Ohno overtook two skaters on the last lap of the 1,500-meter short track final last night for a bronze, surpassing speedskater Bonnie Blair as the most decorated US Winter Olympian. "I was never looking for that label," he said. "But I'm not going to lie. The way you guys say it sounds really, really nice."

The 27-year-old skater from Seattle has two gold, two silver and three bronze medals in three Olympics. Ohno already earned a silver in the 1,500 last weekend. That tally edges Blair's five golds and a bronze in three Olympics from 1988 to 1994. "I'm very happy for Apolo's accomplishment," Blair said in a statement from Pacific Coliseum, where she watched the race. "It's a great feat for him, US Speedskating, and the United States of America." Lee Jung-su of South Korea won his second gold in Vancouver and teammate Lee Ho-suk took silver. Ohno has two more events—the 500 starting Wednesday and the 5,000 relay—to add more medals. (More Apolo Anton Ohno stories.)

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