TURIN, Feb 25 (Reuters) - American Apolo Anton Ohno won the men's 500 metres in the Winter Olympics short track skating on Saturday, winning his first title of the Games and putting an end to Ahn Hyun-soo's bid to make a clean sweep of the golds.

"Oh Wow!" Ohno exclaimed as he crossed the line, his arms raised in surprise and victory.

Ahn of South Korea had won the 1,000 and 1,500 and was the favourite for the 500 and the men's 5,000 relay, due to be raced later on Saturday.

Ohno put a stop to that from the very start of the 500 final, swinging around the first corner like lightning and keeping the lead through the fast and furious race.

Ahn was trailing at the start of the race and could not find the speed to overtake the whole pack, sliding in third. Canada's Francois-Louis Tremblay took silver.

Ohno could hardly believe he had won as he crossed the line and he quickly skated across to hug his coach before doing a victory lap, pumping his fists to the flock of American fans in the crowd.