MOSCOW: South Korea's short track speed skating star Ahn Hyun-Soo is set to compete for Russia at the Olympics after being granted citizenship by President Dmitry Medvedev, officials said Wednesday.

Medevdev signed a special decree awarding Ahn citizenship, the Kremlin said a statement, in a switch of nationality that had caused anger and dismay in South Korea when it was first mooted this year.

"I am very glad that everything has worked out. I have waited for this for a long time" Ahn said in a statement published by the Russian speed skating union, expressing excitement about getting his hands on a Russian passport.

Ahn said that in future he would be known as "Viktor", a common Russian name but also a reference to his expectations of winning glory for his new country.

"I hope this name brings me success," he said. "And Viktor is easy to remember for Russians," added Ahn, pledging that he would now live in Moscow.

The move should clear the way for Ahn -- who already won three Olympic gold medals and one silver in 2006 and clinched five world titles during his career -- to perform for Russia at its 2014 home Winter Olympics at Sochi.

Ahn controversially failed to make the South Korean team for the 2010 Vancouver Games and was reportedly disenchanted with factional infighting within the Korea Skating Union (KSU).

The sensational move comes as Russia seeks to realise a goal of winning around a dozen gold medals at the Sochi Games at a time when its Soviet-era dominance of Winter sports is on the wane.

Ahn had previously said that his new nationality means his South Korean citizenship will automatically be nullified.