South Korea's Short Track Relay Bid Ends in Collision, $100 Protest Rejected

"If you want to protest the ruling, bring $100."

It sounds absurd, but this is the International Skating Union's official procedure for filing an appeal. South Korea's short track team competing at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics had to follow this very process in the mixed relay event.

The mixed relay team of Choi Min-jung, Kim Gil-li, Hwang Dae-heon, and Lim Jong-eon collided with a falling American skater during the second semifinal heat of the mixed 2000m relay at Milan's Ice Skating Arena on February 10. The incident left them in third place behind Canada and Belgium, ending their hopes of advancing to the final.

While racing in third position behind the United States and Canada, American skater Kristen Stothard fell on her own. Kim Gil-li, following close behind, could not avoid her and both went down. Despite falling, Kim managed to tag Choi Min-jung, but the gap to the top two had already widened too much, leaving Korea in third.

Immediately after the race, Korean team coach Kim Min-jung sprinted toward the judges with $100 in hand to file an appeal. Under ISU rules, appeals must be submitted with cash alongside the written protest. The requirement is designed to prevent frivolous complaints. If the appeal is accepted, the money is returned; if rejected, it goes to the ISU.

Korea's appeal was denied. Under the rules, athletes affected by other competitors can only receive relief if they were maintaining a "qualifying position for the next round"—first or second place at the Winter Olympics. Since Korea was in third place at the time of the collision, no remedy was available.

"This is exactly why people say short track has so many variables," Choi Min-jung said. "We were unlucky today, but there will be better days. The first event is over now, and we'll do better in the next ones."

Though Korea's first medal hunt ended in unfortunate elimination, their medal campaign is just beginning. Eight gold medals remain up for grabs for the Korean short track team in the men's and women's 500m, 1000m, and 1500m individual events, as well as the women's 3000m relay and men's 5000m relay.