Short Track - Ladies' 500 m - 2014 Winter Olympics

 Li Jianrou

(李坚柔)

Gold Medal

China

Li Jianrou (Chinese: 李坚柔; born 15 August 1986) is a Chinese Short track Speed skater. She won a gold medal in 500 m event of 2014 Winter Olympics. She is the 2012 Overall World Champion.

Emily Scott

12th Place

USA

Emily Scott (born February 16, 1989) is an American short track speed skater who is scheduled to compete in the 500 metres 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.