Russian Short Track Speed Skater Elistratov Wins Bronze Medal at 2018 Olympics

GANGNEUNG (Sputnik) – Russian 2014 Olympic Champion in short track speed skating relay Semen Elistratov won bronze medal in 1,500-meter race at the 2018 Olympic Games in South Korea on Saturday.

In the finals, Elistratov covered the distance for two minutes and 10.687 seconds.

Korean skater Kim Hyo-jun took gold and Dutch skater Sjinkie Knegt took silver.

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Elistratov thus brought the first medal for the team of "Olympic Athletes From Russia" at the Pyeongchang Olympics.

Team #KOR has won their first #gold medal at #PyeongChang2018! Hyojun Lim is Short Track #speedskating champion! Sjinkie Knegt #NED is #silver and Semen Elistratov #OAR is #bronze. Congratulations! 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/RRqAz5JRSI

— Olympics (@Olympics) February 10, 2018

​Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) chief Alexander Zhukov told Sputnik that "it was important to win a medal on the first day as it improves the mood of the whole team."

The official opening ceremony of the Olympic Games took place on Friday. The Games will end on the 25th of February with the closing ceremony.