Corinne Stoddard wins bronze, ends U.S. women’s Olympic short-track drought

Corinne Stoddard won bronze in the 1,500 meters at the Milan-Cortina Olympics on Friday, becoming the first American woman to medal in Olympic short-track speedskating in 16 years, Fox News Digital reported.

Stoddard, 24, entered the Games ranked second in the world in short track, Fox News Digital reported. She overcame early setbacks — slipping three times on her first day on the ice in Milan — and advanced through the preliminary rounds to reach the final.

Stoddard led for much of the final before South Korea’s Kim Gil-li and Choi Min-jeong passed her, with Kim taking gold and Choi silver, according to official results. Stoddard held on for the bronze.

She credited her team for helping her recover after difficult races. “I think after the 1000 meters, I basically spent the whole day crying in bed,” Stoddard said. “I basically came from the depths of hell to get here, and I couldn’t have done it without my team and my staff and my coaches, everyone, just lifting me up and [giving] me the confidence that I could skate the way I know how to after so many terrible races.”

With the bronze, Stoddard earned her first Olympic medal and helped snap a seven-year medal drought for American short-track skaters, Fox News Digital reported.

Source: Original Article