Apolo Anton Ohno Vying for History

Sports News - February 13th, 2010 - Written By Bryan

Following a test run during the 1988 winter Olympics is Calgary, short track speed skating became an official Olympic event. Since it inception, it has quickly become a popular event, headlining some of the greatest athletes in Olympic history.
The 2010 1500m men's short track event will be held at the Pacific Coliseum, situated in downtown Vancouver. The venue that can hold up to 14,000 people. American Shani Davis is the current world record holder, with a time of 1:41.04. Historically, the event has been dominated by the United States, China, Canada, and Korea, as the majority of medals have been divided between the four countries.

American Apolo Anton Ohno anchors the 2010 U.S team. Ohno was on record as saying that this year's American team is "one of the best we've ever had."

Ohno won Olympic gold in this event in 2002, at the Salt Lake City games. In 2006 at Turin, Ohno collected the gold medal in the short, 500m race. Overall he has won five Olympic medals, and looks to add to his total in Vancouver.

Ohno grew up not far from Vancouver, in Seattle, Washington. He currently sits tied with Eric Heiden for the most decorated American Olympic speed skater in history. Heiden won five medals at the 1980 games in Lake Placid.

In Ohno is to be successful, he will have to get by a trio of South Koreans in the 1500 Men's short track event. Ho-Suk Lee, Jung-Su Lee and Si-Bak Sung headline the event, which begins on February 13th.

Ho-Suk Lee is the betting favorite according to the Olympic Betting lines at Bodog sportsbook, currently boasting 3/2 odds.

Jung-Su Lee has been established as a 2/1 favorite to take home the gold medal for South Korea.

Sung follows suit behind his fellow countrymen, with 15/4 odds to walk away with gold

Ohno falls in line next, as the top American favored to win the event, with odds at 13/2. A medal would supplant him as the most decorated American speed skater in Olympic history.