Canada’s Hamelin wins bronze in 500-metre race at world short track championship

MONTREAL – Wu Dajing of China won the men’s 500 metres and Canada’s Charles Hamelin took the bronze medal on Saturday at the world short track speed skating championship.

Hamelin, from Ste-Julie, Que., played catch-up after starting from the outside position and nearly caught J.R. Celski of the United States for second place with a strong last-lap push.

Victor An of Russia, the Olympic gold medallist, lost his balance late in the race and came in fourth.

Park Seung-Hi of South Korea took the women’s 500-metre gold ahead of Elise Christie of Britain and Fan Kexin of China. Jorien ter Mors of the Netherlands was fourth.

Marianne St-Gelais of St. Felicien, Que., and Marie-Eve Drolet of Laterriere, Que., were eliminated in the semifinals.

Christie was delighted with her medal after she was penalized in three races in Sochi and was shut out of the medals.

Hamelin won the 1,500-metre race on Friday and is gunning for his first overall world championship title.

Charle Cournoyer of Boucherville, Que., the Olympic bronze medallist, and Olivier Jean of Lachenaie, Que., who was celebrating his 30th birthday, lost in the quarter-finals.