Four times champions South Korea learned they had been disqualified while they were skating a celebratory lap of honour on Wednesday to give China Olympic gold in the women's short track 3,000 metres relay.

China's (L-R) Sun Linlin, Wang Meng, Zhou Yang and Zhang Hui celebrate after finding out they had won the gold medal in the women's 3000 metres relay short track speed skating final at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics February 24, 2010. (XINHUA)

Canada took the silver, with the United States picking up the bronze.

South Korea's skaters had already started waving flags in joy after crossing the line ahead of the rest of the field but a lengthy referee review decided Kim Min-jung had impeded during an exchange push with just a few laps remaining.

Cheers turned to tears as the inconsolable South Koreans rushed past reporters without stopping to explain their mistake.

One of their coaches had banged a padded barrier in frustration when the referee told him of the decision.]

"I was not surprised by the disqualification because collisions happen all the time in short track," Wang Meng, who cost China a medal in Turin four years ago when she was judged to have impeded, told reporters.

China stood on top of the podium with Zhang Hui sporting a big white plaster over a cut she picked up during the chaotic race where there were 16 skaters on the ice in one go.

Blood Pouring

"I don't remember it, after the race I felt pain in my jaw but I don't know when it happened," Zhang, who had blood pouring from her face at the end of the race, told reporters.

China have dominated the women's events in Vancouver, winning three out of three with individual golds for Wang in the 500 metres and Zhou Yang in the 1,500 metres.

South Korea's Kim Min-jung (R) impedes China's Sun Linlin during the women's 3000 metres relay short track speed skating final at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics February 24, 2010. China won the gold medal after the South Korean team was disqualified. [Photo/Agencies]

China's first Olympic relay gold came in a record time of four minutes 6.610 seconds thanks to a team featuring Sun Linlin, Wang, Zhang and Zhou.

With six laps remaining, Korea were trailing China and during an exchange thought they could overtake but Kim cut across China's path while trying to make the pass.

In the day's other races, there were no surprises in the women's 1,000 heats, with Wang easily winning her race and Zhou also making it look easy.

The men were in action in 500 metres heats where the usual suspects, including American 2006 champion Apolo Anton Ohno and Canadian favourite Charles Hamelin, made it safely through to the quarter-finals.

The remaining rounds in the women's and men's individual events and finals are on Friday, when the men's 5,000 relay medals will also be up for grabs in a crowded final featuring four teams instead of five because France were advanced.

(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2010)