Chinese short track speed skater Wang Meng won the 500m title at the 2006 Olympics.
Posted: Feb 4, 12:50p ET | Updated: Feb 4, 1:08p ET
BEIJING (Reuters) -- China's Wang Meng is convinced only her own mistakes can prevent her from defending her Olympic 500m short track speed skating title in Vancouver this month.
World champion in the 500m and 1000m events, the uncompromising Wang has recovered from a hand injury and is raring to go for her second Winter Games.
"Unless I make mistakes, no one else will have any chance to win," the 24-year-old, who also won a silver and a bronze in Torino four years ago, told local media.
Unlike the mostly conservative products of China's state sports system, Wang's dyed ginger hair is a physical manifestation of her outspoken character.
Eschewing the usual platitudes of her compatriots, Wang said her main goal at the Pacific Coliseum would be simply to beat the strong South Korean contingent.
Saying last year that winning just one gold medal in Canada would be a disappointment to her also broke with traditions for Chinese Olympians, who generally downplay expectations.
Wang's outspoken views have got her into trouble before, most notably after the 2007 Asian Winter Games when she was expelled from the national team for criticizing head coach Li Yan.
'No tactics'
"The coach did not organize anything," she said at the time. "The national team has no tactics, no teamwork at all. I'm going to quit."
Having been sidelined from international events, including a world championships, for half a year, Wang returned to the team after making a written apology.
"In the beginning, you can say my relation with Li Yan was conflicted," Wang recalled.
"Now we have turned that hostility into friendship. She has placed great trust in me and given me great responsibilities."
"As I have got older, I have become better at communicating," she added.
As well as her title defense in the 500m, the 14-time world champion will race in the 1000m, 1500m and lead the Chinese challenge in the 3000m relay at the Feb. 12-28 Games.
China crossed the line third but were disqualified from the relay in Torino when Wang was ruled to have blocked a Canadian rival. "I am now more mature than four years ago in Torino," Wang said. "I hope as a team we can do better and get on the podium."
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