Posted: Feb 17, 3:06a ET | Updated: Feb 17, 3:06a ET
Since winning the 500m in Torino, Chinese skater has dominated the event
VANCOUVER (AFP) -- China's Wang Meng , who won the 500m to stop South Korea's sweep of Olympic women's short track gold medals in 2006, defends the title Wednesday to kick off her all-conquering bid at the Vancouver Games.
She seems ready to reign supreme, having taken the overall, 500m and 1000m titles at the 2009 World Championships a year after sweeping all world titles in the Olympic distances which also includes 1500m.
Wang also won the 1000m silver and the 1500m bronze at the 2006 Torino Olympics.
"She could win any distance at any time," said China's assistant coach Paul Marchese, an American.
"Everybody looks at her. She's the alpha not just on the team but in the world."
At last year's worlds, the 24-year-old Wang beat South Korean KIM Min-Jung into second spot with teammate Zhou Yang third to claim the back-to-back women's overall titles.
Wang looks still more formidable in the absence of South Korean Jin Sun-Yu, who collected the 1000m, 1500m and 3000m relay golds in Torino. Hampered by injury, Jin could not win a ticket to Vancouver.
Wang, the 500m world record holder, has finished top overall in the 2009-2010 World Cup series, as well as in the 500m and the 1000m. She has swept four 500m rounds.
But Marchese warned of the quirky nature of the sport which is full of crashes and disqualifications.
"Anything is possible in short track," he said.
Wang has refused to talk to reporters since her arrival in Vancouver. But she said earlier: "Our target is beat the South Korean team."
"I am very confident. I am much stronger than four years ago, physically and mentally," she added.
PARK Seung-Hi is South Korea's best in the distance, 10th overall in the World Cup. Lee Eun-Byul , Cho Ha-Ri and Park ranked fourth, fifth and sixth in the 1000m with Lee second behind China's Zhou Yang in the 1500m.
Kalyna Roberge carries Canada's hopes as she finished runner-up to Wang in the 500m World Cup.
American Katherine Reutter , second in the 1000m and third in the 1500m World Cup series, could also be considered a threat with her explosive power.
"I am the fastest in the world in the last four laps. It is the first half of the race that I need to work on. That's where I usually lose," said the 21-year-old in her first Olympics.
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