CHINA: SKATING: Chinas four-time gold medalist speed skater injured before Sochi Olympics

Record ID: 872651

  • Title: CHINA: SKATING: Chinas four-time gold medalist speed skater injured before Sochi Olympics
  • Date: 16th January 2014
  • Summary: SHANGHAI, CHINA (JANUARY 16, 2014) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF HUASHAN HOSPITAL HUASHAN HOSPITAL SIGN NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 31st January 2014 12:00
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  • Location: Bulgaria
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  • Country: Bulgaria
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA9NUPBER4LRSKWOOLMQ7FA5EVH
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  • Story Text: Chinese four-time gold medalist speed skater Wang Meng suffers an injury that could possibly keep her out of this year's upcoming Sochi Olympics.


    Chinese Olympic-bound speed skater Wang Meng was injured on Thursday (January 16), possibly harming her chances of going for gold at the upcoming Sochi Olympics.
    Official state news agency Xinhua reported that the four-time gold medalist was injured during a training session in Shanghai.
    Huashan Hospital staff said that Wang received surgery on her injured foot and ankle this evening, although the results of her surgery have yet to be determined.
    "From a medical perspective, Wang Meng's injury is an ankle fracture. Both internal malleolus and external malleolus are fractured. It's a double fracture. In the meantime, flakes of bone have been moved after the ankle was injured. The ankle has been injured seriously," the hospital's director of sports medicine Chen Siyi, told a news conference.
    Li Fangxiang, China's Director of Sports Trauma for its General Sports Administration said the question of Wang's attendance at Sochi yet remains "unknown."
    "It'still unknown that whether Wang Meng can attend winter Olympics. But first of all, we take the athlete's health as priority. We won't lose the principle of proper treatment (for our athletes) just to pursue the gold medal blindly. Normally, the fracture of and ankle needs 6 weeks to recover, which will be followed by a rehabilitation process," said Li.
    Shanghai residents said they her saddened by Wang's injury and the possibility of her cancelling this year's Sochi trip.
    "I have been concerned about Wang Meng for a long time. I know she's a strong national athlete for short track speed skating. I had wished she could compete the in Sochi Winter Olympics. But I didn't expect she would break her leg which might affect her professional career. I feel pity about it," said 24 year-old Shanghai resident Feng Sicong.
    Wang began skating at the age of nine even though her parents were not keen for her to do so. She made her debut for China in 2002 at the World Cup in Korea.
    In 2007, she threatened to quit the national team after disagreements with the coach. She was also banned from the 2007 World Championships after challenging an umpire's decision and refusing to compete.
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