Wang Beixing will be returning to China with a bronze medal after sliding onto the podium in the 500 meter speed skating event.

Wang Beixing was a major hope for the country's second gold medal at the Winter Games. But it wasn't to be as South Korea's Lee Sang-hwa claimed gold with a time of 76 point 09 seconds. She blitzed reigning world record holder Jenny Wolf into second by five hundredths of a second. After a tough competition - Wang finished with 76 point 63 seconds to settle for bronze.

Although disappointed without coming away with the gold she craved. Wang's definitely a future hope in the sport for China, as she has time on her side and she can only improve with more race experience and exposure at competitions.

In the women's speed skating 500m final held in Richmond Olympic Oval, Vancouver on February 16, China's Wang Beixing clinched the bronze with a time of 76.63. [Wei Zheng/China Sports Online]