Liu Shaoang (R) and Lin Xiaojun (L) of China compete during the men's 500m final at the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating series in Beijing, China, Dec. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)

Home favorites Liu Shaoang and Lin Xiaojun collided while in the lead as Canada's Jordan Pierre-Gilles triumphed in the men's 500m (1) of the ISU Short Track World Cup in Beijing on Saturday.

Pierre-Gilles took the gold medal in 40.711 seconds, followed by France's Quentin Fercoq and Jens van 'T Wout of the Netherlands, with Liu and Lin finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

The men's 500m (1) was considered one of the most promising events for the hosts, with Lin and the Liu brothers being competitive. Although Liu's elder brother Liu Shaolin did not make it to the final A, Lin and Liu were powerful enough to provide a belt and braces approach for Team China.

Liu led from the start ahead of Lin, but with three laps remaining, Lin attempted to overtake Liu, resulting in a collision that forced China to hand over the gold and silver medals.

After the race, Liu consoled his teammate, explaining that it was part of the competition.

"It's pretty normal, that's short track," the Olympic champion said. "This is how short track is different from other sports, because you have to think about everything."

Liu also praised the great atmosphere in the venue and expressed gratitude to the home crowd.

The renovated Capital Indoor Stadium, which served as the Beijing 2022 venue, drew a large number of spectators and showed once again the popularity of the sport in China.

Although the hosts failed to pick up a gold medal on Saturday, four silvers and a bronze were enough to give the home heroes the rock-star treatment.

Many fans carried images and names of the athletes they supported, and some of the star skaters, such as Lin, had fans cheering them on from outside the venue.

"Beijing was unlike any other World Cup, and the size of the crowd and the cheering here was Winter Olympics-level," a fan commented on China's social media Weibo.

Also on Saturday, Kristen Santos-Griswold won gold for the United States in the women's 500m (1). In the 1500m event, South Korean skaters Kim Gun-woo and Kim Gil-li took the men's and women's titles apiece.

The mixed relay title went to the Netherlands in 2:37.471.

Sunday will be the last day of the tournament and six gold medals will be awarded. 

Quentin Fercoq (R) of France competes during the men's 500m final at the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating series in Beijing, China, Dec. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)

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