The recent version of Gracenote’s Virtual Medal Table also forecast that Germany will top the medals standing with 15 golds, followed by Norway with 13 and the United States with 11. (Image: Yonhap)
PYEONGCHANG, South Korea, Jan. 31 (Korea Bizwire) – Host South Korea is expected to win six gold medals to finish seventh overall at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, which kick off next week, according to a U.S. sports data analysis firm Wednesday.
The recent version of Gracenote’s Virtual Medal Table also forecast that Germany will top the medals standing with 15 golds, followed by Norway with 13 and the United States with 11.
According to the U.S. firm’s outlook, South Korea will likely claim six golds and three silver medals at its first ever Winter Olympic Games as host. The games begin their 17-day run on Feb. 9.
Its new estimate is one gold medal fewer than its earlier forecast released in January.
The number is equal to the county’s previous medal tallies from Torino 2006 and Vancouver 2010.
Gracenote said South Korea will obtain all six golds from the ice — four from short track and two from speed skating.
It said Seo Yi-ra will be crowned champion in the men’s 1,000 meters, and Choi Min-jeong and Shim Suk-hee will top the women’s 1,000m and 1,500m events, respectively. The women’s team is projected to win the 3,000m relay.
The host country is also expected to take both the men’s and women’s mass start gold medals in speed skating — the predicted winners being Lee Seung-hoon in the men’s event and Kim Bo-reum in the women’s. Both skaters ranked world No. 1 in the mass start during the 2016-2017 season.
At the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, a total of 2,925 athletes from 92 countries will compete for a record 102 gold medals.
(Yonhap)
