Groseclose 5th in 500, Rabe marks debut

GANGWON, South Korea – Peter Groseclose booked a fifth-place finish that looked potentially like a bronze medal if not for a collision in the men’s 500-meter final of short-track speed skating at the fourth Winter Youth Olympic Games on Monday.

Groseclose was in hot pursuit of third place in the five-man final but collided with China’s Zhang Bohao.

He lost momentum and crashed out of the medal sprint.

“I got tripped,” said the 16-year-old Filipino-American who had to be treated in a hospital for a wound in his foot caused by the blade of his skates.

US bet Sean Boxiong Shuai won the gold medal with a time of 41.498 seconds, followed by China’s Zhang Xinzhe (41.755) and Hungary’s Dominik Gergely Major (41.969).

Bohao was fourth in 45.685 seconds in the event with a start list of 36 athletes.

“It’s still fifth overall—or five out of 36 entries,” Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said. “The Philippines is proud of Peter’s accomplishment despite what happened. Nothing to be ashamed of.”

“I think it was my blade that cut the right side of my foot, but I’m okay,” said Groseclose, who earlier raced in the 1,500m and 1,000m.

“Close to the bronze but still so much to be proud of,” chef de mission Ada Milby said. “Still our best finish ever in a winter sport at an Olympic event.”

Meanwhile, freestyle skier Laetaz Amihan Rabe tries to conquer a strong field and loneliness when she sees action on Wednesday, January 24, 2024.

“I feel lonely because I’m the only one in my events,” said the 15-year-old Rabe, who’s been practicing at the Welli Hilli Park Ski Resort where the temperature dropped to -15 Celsius Tuesday.

“But I’m proud and ready for tomorrow [Wednesday],” she said.

Rabe sustained a minor bruise in her jaw when she crashed in training Sunday but said she’s ready for the women’s slopestyle that starts at 9:45 a.m. here, featuring 20 other strong contenders with athletes from Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand, Ukraine, and the US as favorites.

Others also sustained injuries on Monday – one had a concussion on the head, and another broke his knee and is out of the Olympics. /