Speed Skater Jung Jae-won Eyes Gold: "I Will Beat Stolz"

Jung Jae-won (25, Gangwon Provincial Office) was a 17-year-old high school sophomore when he won a silver medal in men's team pursuit at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics speed skating event. Although the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Games mark his third Olympics, he has reached his prime in his mid-twenties. His skills and experience have peaked, combining abundant energy with eight years of accumulated expertise. The timing is perfect for his first gold medal. Having won silver medals at his previous two Olympics, he challenges for gold with renewed determination.

Jung will compete in the men's mass start semifinal at 11 p.m. on February 21 (Korea Standard Time) at the Milan Speed Skating Stadium in Italy. Mass start is Jung's signature event. The top eight skaters from each of two preliminary heats advance to the final. The final is scheduled for 12:40 a.m. on February 22.

In mass start, 16 skaters start simultaneously and complete 16 laps (6,400 meters total) around a 400-meter track. Points vary by lap. In intermediate sprints at laps 4, 8, and 12, the top three finishers receive 3, 2, and 1 points respectively. In the final sprint, positions 1 through 6 receive 60, 40, 20, 10, 6, and 3 points respectively. Speed and endurance matter, but strategy and tactical awareness in the final lap significantly influence outcomes.

At the 2018 PyeongChang Games, Jung earned the nickname "baby-faced" for his youthful appearance. Now he is called the "face" of Korean mass start. After winning team pursuit silver at PyeongChang, he captured mass start silver at the 2022 Beijing Games. This season, he collected two silver medals across four mass start races at ISU Speed Skating World Cup events. These results fuel expectations for gold beyond a third consecutive Olympic podium finish.

Jung completed his warm-up ahead of the mass start. On February 20, he placed 14th out of 30 skaters in the men's 1,500 meters with a time of 1:45.80. He originally lacked qualification for this event but gained entry when a spot opened. Though his training schedule and conditioning targeted mass start, he decided to compete to sharpen his race instincts and assess ice conditions.

After the race, Jung said, "I hesitated because it might disrupt my mass start training cycle, but I thought competing first would relieve tension and boost my speed sense." He added, "The most important thing is the mass start. My goal is obviously to reach the podium, and I want to stand at the highest spot. I am preparing with greater focus."

Jordan Stolz of the United States poses the biggest threat to Jung's gold medal bid. Stolz claimed gold in the 500 meters and 1,000 meters at these Games with Olympic records. He sought to sweep all events but settled for silver in the 1,500 meters (1:42.75), behind China's Ning Zhongyan (1:41.98).

Jung said, "Stolz is truly remarkable and possesses fearsome ability. But I believe I will have at least one opportunity." He added, "Stolz will unleash an explosive spurt with two laps remaining. I must not lose sight of Stolz and the trailing group at that moment. I will compete with the mindset of staying as close as possible."