Beijing 2022: Short track speed skater Wu Dajing seen as an icon of courage in China

Wu Dajing's story at the Winter Olympics Beijing 2022 is not over, even if he has raced in his last individual event at the Olympics.

The PyeongChang 2018 gold medallist in the men's 500m, the People's Republic of China's first male gold medallist in short track in history, didn't reach the podium at the event in Beijing, but told Xinhua that his Games was about the process as much as the result.

"I achieved the first goal of being able to stand here, because it's my third Olympics, and it's equally important for me to enjoy the competition and to get good results."

Reigning world champion Shaoang Liu of Hungary earned his first individual short track speed skating gold medal. ROC’s Konstantin Ivliev and Olympic debutant Steven Dubois of Canada finished with the silver and bronze respectively.

Wu still holds both the Olympic (39.584) and world record (39.505) in the men's 500m.

MORE: Short track speed skating at Beijing 2022: Full schedule of Olympic Winter Games competition and where to watch

"It's a great pity," Wu told Xinhua after the 500m at Beijing 2022. "I have prepared for this for so many years. Everyone in the semi-finals has a chance to finish on the podium. But no matter the result is good or bad, I can accept it."

The 27-year-old, who wears a design of the monkey king on his helmet, had a peaceful way about him in the moments after the race and there seemed to be an acceptance that this could be his last dance on an individual level at the Olympics.

"I'm taking every race like my last one, because I don't know if I'll be able to compete at the next Olympics, or any international competition later."

The reality is Wu has shown remarkable courage and determination to even be competing in a finals at the