South Korea's short track speed skating team, long considered a world powerhouse, has yet to claim an individual gold medal at these Games, placing all eyes on the women's 1500m event on January 21.
Korean skaters have collected one silver and two bronze medals in short track events so far. The pressure now falls squarely on Choi Min-jeong and Kim Gil-li, both representing Seongnam City Hall, as they pursue what could be the nation's only individual gold medal opportunity remaining.
At the Milan Ice Skating Arena on January 16, Hwang Dae-heon (Gangwon Provincial Office) and Lim Jong-eon (Goyang City Hall) were eliminated in the men's 500m heats at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics. Hwang secured silver in the men's 1500m, while Lim and Kim Gil-li each claimed bronze in the men's and women's 1000m respectively. The results have been a blow to Korean short track's reputation as a global leader in the sport.
Since short track's debut as an official Olympic sport at the 1992 Albertville Games through the 2022 Beijing Olympics, South Korea had won gold at every Winter Games. The nation captured at least one individual gold medal at each Olympics following Kim Ki-hoon's men's 1000m victory in 1992. Even when the relay—where four-member teams compete amid numerous variables—failed to produce gold, Korean skaters consistently dominated individual events.
Choi and Kim will pursue history in the women's 1500m on January 21. Choi, who topped the podium in the event at both the 2018 Pyeongchang and 2022 Beijing Games, is attempting to become the first short track skater ever to win three consecutive Olympic titles in a single event. Legends including Jeon Lee-kyung, Arianna Fontana of Italy, Suzanne Schulting of the Netherlands, and Wang Meng of China all achieved back-to-back victories but fell short of a third consecutive gold.
Though Choi has not yet medaled at these Games, she remains among the world's elite, ranking third globally in the 1500m category of the 2025-26 International Skating Union World Tour. Combined with her experience competing in her third Olympics, she is well-positioned to chase a record-breaking achievement.
After failing to medal in the 1000m on January 16, Choi said: "I will show everything I have prepared in the remaining events and deliver a strong performance."
Choi's fiercest rival is her national team junior Kim Gil-li. Kim captured two World Tour victories in the 1500m this season, placing her atop the world rankings in the event. Despite multiple falls that plagued her Olympic debut, she rebounded with a bronze medal in the women's 1000m.
"The 1000m medal gave me confidence," Kim said. "I think I can approach the 3000m relay with more assurance now. My desire to perform well in the 1500m has grown even stronger."