PyeongChang Day 13: Team China earns first gold medal

World
Europe

In day 13, China’s Wu Dajing did not leave any chances to other competitors and referees when taking the gold medal of men's 500m short track speed skating with a new world record of 39.584 seconds.

South Korea’s Hwang Dae-heon and Lim Hyo-jun won the silver and bronze.

It was the first gold medal for Team China in this year’s Games. Meanwhile, Wu became the first Chinese man to win a gold medal in short track speed skating at the Winter Olympics.

Team China celebrate winning the silver medal during the Short Track Speed Skating Men's 5,000m Relay Final. /VCG Photo

Wu took his place in the men’s 5,000m relay final just 45 minutes later, and Team China won a silver medal for the first time in men’s relay with 6 minutes and 32.035 seconds.

The US team celebrates after the penalty-shot shootout to win the women's gold medal ice hockey match between the US and Canada. /VCG Photo

The US women's ice hockey team ended a 20-year gold medal drought by beating four-time champion Canada 3-2 in a shootout thriller.

The two powerhouses have traded world titles and Olympic medals since the 1990s. They have also been the only two women's ice hockey teams ever to win an Olympic gold medal.

Team Belarus celebrates winning gold of the Women's 4x6km Relay. /VCG Photo

Belarus bagged the gold medal in biathlon women's 4x6km relay. Belarus, composed of Nadezhda Skardino, Iryna Kryuko, Dzinara Alimbekava and Darya Domracheva, conceded a match-best nine shooting penalties to finish the race in 1 hour, 12 minutes and 3.4 seconds.

Sweden was 10.7 seconds behind in second, while the third place went to France.

(L-R) Silver medalist Ramon Zenhaeusern of Switzerland, gold medalist Andre Myhrer of Sweden and bronze medalist Michael Matt of Austria celebrate during the medal ceremony for Alpine Skiing. /VCG Photo

Meanwhile, Swedish Alpine skier Andre Myhrer won the gold medal in men's slalom. Austrian great Marcel Hirscher missed a gate in his first run and Swiss skier Ramon Zenhaeusern placed second, 0.34 seconds behind Myhrer. Michael Matt of Austria got the bronze medal, another 0.33 seconds behind.

Alex Ferreira and David Wise, both of United States, and Nico Porteous pose for photographs the Men's Ski Halfpipe. /VCG Photo

US' David Wise defended his gold medal in men's ski halfpipe. After two below-par runs, Wise finished his third run with a stunning 97.20 points for the gold.

Wise became the second athlete to win two gold medals in freestyle skiing, after Canada's Alexandre Bilodeau in men's moguls at Vancouver and Sochi. Wise's compatriot Alex Ferreira finished second. Nico Porteous of New Zealand bagged the bronze.

In the medal tally, Norway is leading the table with 13 gold, while Germany sits second, also with 13 gold but less silver medals.

Team Canada is third with 9 gold, and the US's fourth with 8 after the women's hockey final.

The Netherlands now earn fifth with six medals. China is still in fourteenth place with 1 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze.