Sochi is the latest success for the Russian Korean
On this day, exactly 10 years ago, the entire country witnessed two brilliant victories by Viktor An at the Sochi Olympic Games.
On February 21, 2014, on the ice of the Iceberg Palace, the prizes for the 500 m and 5000 m relay races were played, the last competitive day in short track speed skating. Then the whole country fell definitively and irrevocably in love with Victor, who became so beloved.
Victor An
Photo: Alexander Safonov, “Championship”
After Sochi, An played for Russia for several more years. I even planned to go to the Pyeongchang and Beijing Games. But in 2018 he was not allowed to enter due to a doping scandal and before the 2022 Olympics he decided to leave the sport completely. Overall, the coronavirus pandemic has made adjustments. At the same time, Ahn’s family moved to Korea for the sake of her daughter’s future.
On February 15, 2014, Viktor An won the first gold in Sochi:
Stories
Russian gold medals at the Sochi Olympic Games. Victor An, 1000 m
“Don’t even try to live in Korea again”
At the same time, Victor received an offer from the Chinese national team and began working with the team on the eve of the Olympic Games in Beijing. The results were: the Chinese team won several awards, two of them gold.
The specialist’s work, as expected, was not appreciated in South Korea. They were clearly not happy that their compatriot was helping a competing country.
Victor An
Photo: Alexander Safonov, “Championship”
The Koreans did not forgive Ana for her joy over her team’s victory in the 1,000 m; the truth is that in both semifinals the Korean athletes were disqualified. At the same time, South Korean representatives had doubts about the integrity of the arbitration decisions. Despite the discontent, three Chinese and two Hungarians reached the final. Social media users almost threatened the former Russian athlete: “Don’t even try to return to live in Korea.”
Victor Ahn’s revelations:
An: in Russia they believed me
“If I leave short track speed skating, this discussion will end.”
They also remembered Viktor Anu’s pension for his Olympic successes. In the period before his naturalization, Ahn earned more than 370 million won from sports (more than 25 million rubles at the current exchange rate). The Donga publication notes that none of the South Korean athletes received such a pension more than Victor.
After waiting a moment, after the Beijing Games, the specialist still commented on the criticism to which he and his family were subjected.
Viktor Ahn is going through a difficult time
Photo: from the personal archive of Victor An.
And on February 7, 2023, he published an appeal on social media in which he stated that before moving to Russia he transferred the sports pension he received during his performances in South Korea to children who needed heart surgery and young athletes who needed treatment.
At the same time, the athlete stated that “short track is more important than nationality.” And he also had thoughts of ending that look forever.
“It occurred to me that if I quit short track speed skating, this discussion would end. I thought people were watching and supporting my passion. But it was heartbreaking to see the events that led to the criticism.”
Viktor Ahn is going through a difficult time
Photo: from the personal archive of Victor An.
I wanted to benefit South Korea
Viktor An’s work history in China ended after the 2022 Olympics. The contract was not renewed and he returned home to his family, whom he had not seen for 19 months due to COVID-19. Victor Ahn’s goal was to work as a coach in South Korea.
“Korea is where I spent the most time as an athlete and where they loved me. I’ll do my best.”
Ahn applied for the job, but was rejected. He once again recalled his work with China and his transition to the Russian team. In general, to work as a coach you need a license, noted the Korean Skating Union.
However, in April of the same year, Yonhap Agency reported that Ahn Hyun-soo (Korean name of Victor Ahn) became an unofficial personal coach for several short track speed skaters of the national team in the 2023/2024 season.
Viktor Anu had a hard time:
Viktor Anu suffered for his performances with Russia. In Korea he lost his job
In my father’s footsteps
Now Victor An is raising his daughter, Jane An. She is already nine years old and seems to have decided to follow in her father’s footsteps and also ice skate.
In the photographs that were published on the social networks of the athlete’s wife, U Na Ri, the girl appeared wearing her father’s glasses and the uniform had a print with Victor Ahn’s face.
Whatever happens with Viktor An, in Russia he is always like one of us, “Vitya”. After so many years of trials and obstacles along the way, he continues to live short track racing. And given the passion of his daughter, we can assume that new victories for the Ana family are just around the corner.
Sochi 2014 Short Track Victory Timeline:
An… fifth, sixth, get ready!
