Short Track - Ladies' 1500 m - 2014 Winter Olympics

 Zhou Yang

(周洋)

Gold Medal

China

Zhou Yang (Chinese: 周洋; pinyin: Zhōu Yáng; born J9 une 1991) is a female Chinese short track speed skater. She won the gold medal in the 1500 m event at the 2010 Winter Olympics. She also won the Gold Medal in 1500m event at 2014 Sochi Olympics. Zhou added another gold medal on the Chinese 3000 m relay team. She set a new world and Olympic record in the 1,000 m semifinal. She encountered some criticism from a governor after she failed to thank her government and country following her win. However, this has sparked much controversy on the internet, and the governor got flamed badly.

Emily Scott

5th Place

USA

Emily Scott (born February 16, 1989) is an American short track speed skater who is scheduled to compete in the 500 meters event at 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. As a young girl, Scott was a gymnast and roller skater. She discontinued gymnastics when it became too expensive, and took up inline speed skating. As an inline skater, she won five World Championship gold medals and set three national records.

In 2008 Scott transitioned from inline skating to short track speed skating on the ice. She made the United States' World Cup and World Championship teams from 2010–2013, winning a silver medal at the 2012 World Championships. With Scott's help, the United States' relay team placed third in the overall 2010–11 World Cup standings and second in the 2011–12 standings. In 2012, she placed second overall at the U.S. National Championships.

Following a poor 2012–13 season, the United States cut Scott's funding, prompting her to fill out an application for food stamps. Shortly thereafter USA Today ran a story on her situation. The story prompted an outpouring of donations from the public, allowing Scott to focus on her training. The increased focus paid off, as Scott finished 2013 as the top rated American in the 1000 meters, second in the 1500 meters, and third in the 500 meters. At the 2014 Olympic Trials, she placed second in all three events, qualifying her for her first Olympics.