Apolo Anton Ohno advances in 500-meter short-track speedskating

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Apolo Anton Ohno advanced through the 500-meter short-track speedskating heats at the Vancouver Winter Olympics on Wednesday, giving him his last shot at an individual gold medal.

The American won his heat, finishing just in front of Canadian Olivier Jean. Ohno will return Friday, and he must advance through the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds to skate for a medal in the 500, in which he is the defending Olympic champion.

Ohno has won a silver and a bronze at the Vancouver Games, making him the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian with seven career medals.

Also moving on was American Simon Cho, who finished second in his heat.

His teammate, Jordan Malone, was in second place when he hit a lane marker and wiped out just before the finish.

-- Houston Mitchell in Vancouver, Canada