Speed skater Noh Seon-yeong joins Olympic training camp

By Lim Chang-won Posted : January 29, 2018, 09:19 Updated : January 29, 2018, 16:40

Journalists stop speed skater Noh Seon-yeong for a standing presser at the gate of a training camp in eastern Seoul. [Yonhap News Photo]


SEOUL, Jan. 29 (Aju News) -- South Korean speed skater Noh Seon-yeong returned to an Olympic training camp Monday after she agreed to compete in the women's 1,500-meter team pursuit at next month's Winter Olympics after a turbulent week over her eligibility.

Noh, 28, turned up at the training camp in eastern Seoul, a day after she said in her Instagram post on Sunday, "After agonizing a lot, I decided to compete at the Olympics. I will do my best and finish my national team career without regret."

Her decision came after Korea Skating Union (KSU) President Kim Sang-hang apologized for a mix-up in communication with the International Skating Union (ISU).

Last Tuesday, Noh had to leave the training camp after she belatedly knew that she was not eligible for the team pursuit because she hadn't earned a spot in an individual race. Under ISU rules, all skaters competing in team pursuit should qualify for at least one individual race. Three days later, she became eligible as the second reserve when two Russian skaters were dropped from the Russian Olympic Committee's final list.

When she left the camp, Noh said she would never wear the national team uniform.  On her Instagram page Sunday, she said another opportunity came to her like a "miracle". "The past week was so hard and difficult for me that I gave up everything."
 
 
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