Zhang Xinzhe (second right) of China competes in the final of the men's 1000m short track speed skating during the Winter Youth Olympic Games at the Gangneung Ice Arena in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, South Korea, on Jan 21, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

GANGNEUNG, South Korea - China added a silver medal in short track speed skating at the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games here on Monday.

Zhang Xinzhe was narrowly defeated by Sean Boxiong Shuai of the United States in the men's 500m final, while his compatriot Zhang Bohao finished fourth.

The 16-year-old Chinese skater already secured a gold in the men's 1,000m and another silver in the 1,500m here, proving his promising future as a prodigy.

Anna Falkowska of Poland won the women's 500m title, while the silver and bronze medals went to hosts South Korea.

Chinese skater Zhang Xinzhe, 16, already secured a gold in the men's 1,000m and another silver in the 1,500m here, proving his promising future as a prodigy

The speed skating tournament began on Monday with the men's and women's 500m events, in which Germany and the Netherlands showed dominance.

German skater Finn Sonnekalb won the men's 500m title, with Norway and South Korea taking silver and bronze.

Angel Daleman of the Netherlands claimed the women's 500m gold, snatching back-to-back titles at the event for her country in the Winter Youth Olympics.

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Britain secured its first-ever gold medal in an Alpine skiing event thanks to Zak Carrick-Smith clinching the men's combined title.

The 16-year-old skier delivered a stunning slalom run, jumping from the 27th place in Super G to clock a total time of one minute and 49.46 seconds, 0.13 seconds faster than silver medalist Alexander Ax Swartz of Sweden.

Maja Waroschitz of Austria won the women's combined Alpine skiing gold with an overall time of one minute and 47.96 seconds, 0.40 seconds faster than silver medalist Giorgia Collomb of Italy.

In the bobsleigh race, Maja Voigt of Denmark claimed the women's monobob gold, with silver and bronze clinched by athletes from Thailand and Romania.

Germany won the women's skeleton gold, while both silver and bronze went to Latvia.

A total of 1,802 athletes aged 14 to 18 from 78 nations and regions are competing in four cities of Gangneung, PyeongChang, Jeongseon and Hoengseong until Feb 1.

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The Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics feature seven sports, 15 disciplines and 81 events.