Short Track Speed Skating at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games:

After his two medals in the 1,000 m and 1,500 m, many of the spectators in the Salt Lake Ice Center were hoping for Apolo Anton Ohno to win a third medal. He was expected to cross blades again with Kim Dong-Seong, who was looking for revenge after his disqualification in the 1,500 m. And while World Record holder Jeffrey Scholten was not selected, the Canadians were assumed to have a shot at a medal, especially Marc Gagnon.

Of these favorites, only Gagnon made it to the final. Ohno was disqualified for an illegal overtaking move in his semi-final, while Kim was narrowly outskated in his. Gagnon did make the final, for the third time in a row. Both in 1994 and 1998, he had fallen and finished outside of the medals. But in Salt Lake, things finally went his way. In a very fast race, the four-time World Champion won the gold ahead of his team mate Jonathan Guilmette and Rusty Smith (USA). It was Gagnon's second Olympic gold medal after his 1998 relay gold, and he would add another one later on the evening, when the Canadians successfully defended their title.