( PyeongChang Prospects ) Teen skater hoping to restore reputation of men ' s short track at PyeongChang SEOUL , Jan . 22 ( Yonhap ) -- The men ' s short track speed skating team of South Korea failed to win any medals at the 2014 Winter Games , and the 18 - year - old skater phenom Hwang Dae - heon is widely seen as someone who can help the crew rebuild its reputation at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics next month . " I want to compete as an earnest athlete for a long period , " Hwang said as he braces for his first Winter Olympics . It is not a surprise that Hwang emerged to become a new star in South Korean short track . For an assignment during his first year at elementary school , the phenom said his dream was to join the national team and that he should " practice hard " to achieve the goal . Shown in this photo provided by short track speed skater Hwang Dae - heon ' s family on Jan . 22 , 2018 , is one of his first grade assignments at elementary school . Hwang wrote about his dream of skating for South Korea and said he needs to " practice hard " to achieve that goal . ( Yonhap ) After proving his capabilities and potential at junior competitions , the young skater fulfilled his dream 10 years later , when Hwang was picked as a member of the national team ahead of the 2016 - 2017 season International Skating Union World Cup Short Track Speed Skating . Hwang took an unusual route to the national team . In 2016 , the police accused five short track speed skaters of regularly betting on sports games on illegal websites , with three of them among the top eight who had been picked for the national team . They were dropped from the squad and Hwang was selected as a replacement . The young skater , however , did not take the opportunity as granted , and proved himself as a well - qualified skater in following international events . In the 2017 - 2018 season , Hwang grabbed three gold medals through four World Cups , successfully rising as a key prospect , rather than being just a replacement . In the men ' s 1 , 500 meters , Hwang collected two gold and two silver to solidify his presence in the distance . Hwang , who will compete in the men ' s 1 , 500 m on Feb . 10 , one day after PyeongChang ' s opening ceremony , could win the first medal for the host country . The young skater will also race in the 500 m and 1 , 000 m , along with the 5 , 000 m relay . The phenom said his role model is Viktor An , a South Korean - born Russian skater , who grabbed three gold in the 2006 Winter Games . An later competed in the 2014 Winter Games and captured three more gold as a Russian athlete after suffering a fallout from factional feuds within South Korea ' s national skating federation . Hwang Dae - heon of South Korea performs at the International Skating Union World Cup Short Track Speed Skating at Mokdong Ice Rink in Seoul in this file photo taken Nov . 19 , 2017 . ( Yonhap ) colin @ yna . co . kr ( END )