Vancouver 5,000m runner-up Lee Seung Hoon is trying to leave behind his disappointing 12th finish on Saturday at Sochi Winter Olympic Games and focus on defending the 10,000m title on Feb. 18.

On finishing 12th in six minutes 25.61 seconds after starting as a medal favorite, the South Korean did not stop for interviews in the mixed zone on Saturday. The Netherlands made a clean sweep of the podium as Sven Kramer successfully defended the 5,000m title in Olympic record time to clinch the 100th gold medal in the men's Olympic speed skating at the Adler Arena.

"I was confident that I could race well and I had no nerves the night before, but when I walked into the arena the nerves started," said Lee.

"I was not sick and I had no physical problems. I have been training in France and the Netherlands and now in Russia and that is three countries in three weeks," he said.

Lee will now concentrate on his next event, 10,000m. Lee will face great challenge from Kramer who missed the title in Vancouver four years ago after being disqualified for lane changing mistake.

"I regret the result but now I must try to forget it and get ready for the 10,000m and the team pursuit," he said.