SOCHI, Russia - The women take over the spotlight as short track speedskating resumes at the Sochi Olympics.

After two days off, the sport resembling roller derby on ice awards medals Thursday in the women's 500 meters.

Canada's Charles Hamelin kisses his girlfriend and compatriot speed skater Marianne St-Gelais after winning the men's 1,500 metres short track speed skating race finals at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics February 10, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

Marianne St-Gelais of Canada watched her boyfriend Charles Hamelin win the 1,500 on Monday. The pair shared a celebratory kiss rinkside. Now she has a chance to get on the podium in the pell-mell sprint where the start is key. Skaters who break out in the best position will have the advantage.

Here are five things to look for on the second day of short track at Iceberg Skating Palace:

WOMEN'S 500 FINAL

China's Kexin Fan (L) speeds past Jessica Smith (R) of the United States who crashes out while competing in the women's 500 metres short track speed skating heats event at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics February 10, 2014.  [Photo/Agencies]

Park Seung-hi will try to give South Korea a victory in the only short track event it has never won. If she does, the nation would be the first to win all eight Olympic short track events. Her teammates, Kim Alang and Shim Suk-hee, are also competing. St-Gelais and Arianna Fontana of Italy won silver and bronze at Vancouver.Two-time defending champion Wang Meng of China is not competing because of her broken ankle while her teammates Fan Kexin and Liu Qiuhong will take place to vie for the gold. broke her ankle last month and isn't competing. The lone American to advance out of the heats was Emily Scott.

SPILLS AND CHILLS

The women's 500 heats on Monday were mistake-prone. Russia's Tatiana Borodulina was disqualified for two false starts, silencing the fans. American Jessica Smith crashed out of her first individual event, losing it on the second lap of her heat.

MEN'S 5,000 RELAY

Viktor Ahn of Russia, who won the bronze medal in the men's 1,500-meter short track speedskating holds his medal during the medals ceremony at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Monday, Feb. 10, 2014, in Sochi, Russia.  [Photo/Agencies]

Canada is the team to beat as the semifinals get underway. Three of the four skaters who won the gold medal four years ago on home ice in Vancouver are back. The Canadians won last year's world title in the relay, and those same four skaters will be on the ice, including the Hamelin brothers, Charles and Francois. Canada has won three of the last four Olympic titles in the relay. Led by Viktor Ahn, the Russians will contend for a medal in front of their fans. The US men, who earned a bronze in Vancouver, will challenge for a podium position, too. The final is Feb. 21.

MEN'S 1,000 HEATS

Charles Hamelin will be seeking his second gold medal of these games as the preliminary rounds of the 1,000 begin. The Canadian, who earlier won the 1,500, is the world's top-ranked skater at this distance. Ahn and American J.R. Celski are also medal threats. None of the Vancouver medalists are competing in this event, including American Apolo Anton Ohno, who has retired. The final is Saturday.