Korea’s three-time Olympic gold medalist in short track speed skating Ahn Hyun-Soo will compete as Viktor Ahn after receiving Russian citizenship, skating officials said Wednesday.
The 26-year-old, among the world’s most decorated speed skaters with his sweep of three golds and one bronze at the Turin Games in 2006, announced in August that would represent Russia in international competition.
"Soon after the New Year holidays Ahn Hyun-Soo will receive a Russian passport," Aleksei Kravtsov, head of the Russian Skating Union, said in comments carried by its website. "He has chosen the Russian name Viktor, and after getting his passport he will become Viktor Ahn," Kravtsov said.
The name was chosen because of its triumphant overtones, Kravtsov said.
President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday signed an order granting the five-time world champion Russian citizenship, the skating union said, posting a scan of the document on its website.
Viktor Ahn could make his debut for Russia at the European championships starting January 27 in the Czech Republic, he said.
Ahn dominated the sport in the last decade, taking five straight world titles between 2003 and 2007, and winning the 1,500 meter, 1,000 meter and 5,000 meter relay events in Turin.
But since injuring his knee in 2008 and undergoing four surgeries in 15 months, Ahn has struggled to recapture his form.
He brushed aside speculation about his retirement and in an effort to regroup moved this year to Russia, where compatriot Jang Kwon-ok is a national team coach. Ahn has set the target of gold in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.
