S. Korean speed skater Kim Min-seok grabs bronze in men's 1,500m

GANGNEUNG, South Korea, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Kim Min-seok won bronze in the men's 1,500 meter speed skating at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Tuesday, becoming the first Asian to win a medal in the event. He was only 0.07 second short of winning silver, and 0.92 second behind the champion. It was Kim's first race at his first Olympics. Kim recorded a time of 1:44.93 in the race at the Gangneung Oval, following the Netherlands' Kjeld Nuis and Patrick Roest. He is the first Asian skater to make a podium finish in the men's 1,500m distance in the Winter Olympics, since the inaugural Games in 1924. Kim's teammate Joo Hyong-jun clocked 1:46.65, to take 17th place. Kim is considered an athlete with a bright future, who is expected to follow footsteps of his senior Lee Seung-hoon, who won gold and silver at Vancouver 2010 and silver at Sochi 2014. In February 2017, Kim clocked 1:46.05 in the men's 1,500m at the World Single Distances Championships held at Gangneung Oval, finishing at the fifth spot, posting only 0.55 second gap with Sven Kramer of the Netherlands, who then grabbed bronze. Kim also solidified his presence in the field of speed skating after becoming the champion of last year's Asian Winter Games in the men's 1,500m. He also won another gold from the team pursuit in the event. Joo won a silver in the team's pursuit in the 2014 Winter Games. He earned a last-minute ticket to the 1,500m race after Lee decided not to join the race. colin@yna.co.kr (END)