History was repeated as Wang Meng, on her maiden Olympic tour, made it to the top podium in the women 's 500m of short track speedskating, the very event China earned its first-ever Olympic gold by Yang Yang in 2002.

Wang, 20, waved her right fist after crossing the finish in 44. 345 seconds on Thursday, securing the first gold for China at the Turin Winter Olympics.

"I was extremely excited but I didn't race as well as I expected. From the very beginning, I felt very tense. My coach (Yi Min) pumped me up, I resumed my confidence and made it at last."

"This is my first Olympics," said the 2004 and 2005 world champion. "Before I came here, I didn't feel nervous about that, but when I started on the Olympic rink, I learned how nervous I was. Olympics is totally different from World Cup or world championships.

"I still can't believe I am already an Olympic champion. I have to collect myself and stay cool since I have three more events to compete. Our team is strong in overall strength, so we still have chances for more medals."

Before Wang started skating at the age of nine, she used to play table tennis but her parents were not happy because it interfered with her studies.

However, Wang went on with her sports journey in short track speedskating, withstanding her parents' objection, and it wasn't until she had to move to the sports institute that she had to tell them that she joined the skating team.

Indulged in the sport full of excitement and antagonism, Wang skated at the Qitaihe (a county in the Heilongjiang Province) Sports Institute for six months and went to the Heilongjiang Sports Institute in 1998. In 2000, Wang entered the Heilongjiang team, and went on to the national team in 2001.

Xin Qingshan, head coach of Chinese national team, said Wang was an industrious skater.

"She is tenacious and mentally strong," he said. "In either physical or technical training, she would always complete her sessions with high standard and quality."

Once in a year, Wang worn off 17 pairs of shoes.

In contrast to her nervousness during the Games, Wang had overwhelming confidence prior to her arrival in Turin.

"I have no pressure. My aim is surely to win a gold medal in Turin since every skater's biggest dream is to top the podium."

At the 9th National Games, then 16-year-old Wang fell to the finish line and picked up a bronze medal.

She repeated the history at the 10th National Games. Another fall brought her to a gold-medal finish.

The year of 2004 was Wang's outburst year as she won three gold medals at the World Cup in Harbin, including in 1,500m, which Chinese skaters tried to win a gold medal in vain during 14 consecutive international events.

With a gold in 500m and a silver in 1,500m at the 2004 world championships, Wang began to play a leading role among Chinese woman skaters.

"If necessary, I will shoulder the responsibility."

Wang is an extroverted girl. She often told jokes to her teammates, making the skaters' life never dull.

She is also a "Tom Boy" due to short clean-cut hair and independent personality, fostered in the time when she lived in the Qitaihe Sports Institute.

"She is mentally strong and has a boy's temperament," Xin said.

Wang is also filial to her parents. She often calls her parents to check how they are doing.

In the awarding ceremony, Wang was so excited that she jumped on the podium before her name was announced.

Source: Xinhua