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Viktor Ahn becomes first man to win gold for two distinct countries at Winter Olympics

Viktor Ahn

(L-R) Liang Wenhao of China and Viktor Ahn of Korea compete in men’s 500m final at the 2013 ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Championships, on March 9, 2013 in Debrecen, Hungary. AFP PHOTO / FERENC ISZA (Photo credit should read FERENC ISZA/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Whether he’s speed skating for South Korea or Russia, Viktor Ahn is clearly a special athlete. In fact, he did something that no man’s ever done: winning a gold medal for two distinct countries at the Winter Olympics after he took the top spot in the 1000m on Saturday.

Beyond that, he made history in a broader way, as his fourth career gold medal (three won as Ahn Hyun-Soo) sets a solo record for men’s speed skaters.

MORE: Background on how Ahn ended up skating for South Korea.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins