Israeli Speed Skater Falls Shy of Semis in 1,500 Meters

Israeli short track speed skater Vladislav Bykanov failed to qualify for the 1,500-meter semifinals in the Winter Olympics by less than a second.

Bykanov finished fourth on Monday in the second heat in 2:21.163 — 0.8 away from advancing — at the games in Sochi, Russia. He will compete in the 1,000-meter race on Thursday and the 500-meter race on Feb. 18.

An immigrant to Israel from Ukraine, Bykanov, 24, carried the Israeli flag when the delegation marched in to the Fisht Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony.