Bykanov will be representing Israel at his second consecutive Olympics after also racing in Sochi four years ago.
By ALLON SINAIIsraeli skater Vladislav Bykanov(photo credit: COURTESY OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OF ISRAEL)
Less than one month before the start of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea, Israeli skater Vladislav Bykanov claimed a bronze medal in the men’s 1,500-meters final at the ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Dresden, Germany, on Saturday.Bykanov, who will be representing Israel at his second consecutive Olympics after also racing in Sochi four years ago, crossed the line in fourth place after clocking a time of 2:15.432 minutes. However, France’s Thibaut Fauconnet, who finished in third, was penalized shortly after the final for illegally blocking the 28-year-old Israeli, giving Bykanov his second straight bronze at the Europeans in the 1,500m after also coming third last year.Bykanov, who failed to reach the quarterfinals in the 500m, 1,000m and 1,500m in Sochi, won the 500m B final later Saturday in Dresden in a time of 41.229 seconds to finish in fifth place overall.Sjinkie Knegt of the Netherlands claimed the gold medals in both the 500m and 1,500m.
