Choi Min-jung Ties Korea's All-Time Olympic Medal Record With Relay Gold

South Korean short track star Choi Min-jung, 28, led the women's 3,000-meter relay team to gold, etching her name in Korean Winter Olympics history.

Choi teamed with Kim Gil-li, Shim Suk-hee, and Noh Do-hee at the Milano Ice Skating Arena on Wednesday to claim gold ahead of Italy, Canada, and the Netherlands in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics short track women's 3,000m relay final. The victory marks Korea's return to the top of the podium eight years after losing to the Netherlands at the 2022 Beijing Games.

With her first medal of these Games coming in gold, Choi raised her career Olympic total to six medals—four gold and two silver. She now shares the record for most Olympic medals by a Korean athlete across both Summer and Winter Games with shooter Jin Jong-oh, archer Kim Soo-nyung, and speed skater Lee Seung-hoon. Her fourth career gold also ties Jeon Lee-kyung's record for most Winter Olympic gold medals by a Korean athlete.

"It feels like a dream to have tied the most-medals record with the relay gold. I'm so happy," Choi said.

Choi's journey at these Games was far from smooth. In the mixed 2,000m relay, teammate Kim Gil-li was tripped by an American skater, eliminating the team before the final. Choi also failed to medal in the 500m and 1,000m individual events.

"Things weren't going well through the early and middle stages of the competition. It was tough and disappointing, but I trusted my preparation and kept competing," Choi said.

As the leadoff skater in the relay final, Choi sprinted to the front as if racing the 500m, setting the pace for her team. Despite contact with a Dutch skater, she said she "stayed calm, which led to a good result."

"Winning gold in the women's relay shows Korean short track is strong," Choi said. "I was able to carry on the legacy of our predecessors because I had great teammates."

Choi will attempt to become the first athlete in Olympic history to win three consecutive gold medals in a single short track event when she competes in the 1,500m on Friday. A gold would make her the first Korean to win five Olympic gold medals. Even a silver or bronze would give her sole possession of Korea's all-time Olympic medal record with seven.