South Korea’s Choi Min‑jeong and Rim Jong‑un Head Short‑Track Team for Milan‑Cortina
Updated (5 articles)
South Korea Dominates Short‑Track History South Korea has accumulated 53 Olympic short‑track medals, including 26 golds, the highest total of any nation and more than all other sports combined across its 19 Winter Games appearances [1]. This record positions the country as the clear favorite entering the Milan‑Cortina Games [1]. The nation’s depth is reflected in both veteran and emerging athletes slated to compete [1].
Choi Min‑jeong Pursues Third Consecutive 1500 m Gold Three‑time Olympic champion Choi Min‑jeong, 27, aims to repeat her 1,500 m victory for a historic third straight gold [1]. A season‑off in 2023‑2024 allowed her to reset mentally before targeting what could be her final Olympics [1]. A win would tie her with three other South Koreans for the most Olympic medals (six) and bring her within one gold of Chun Lee‑kyung’s Korean record [1].
Rim Jong‑un Emerges as Men’s Flagship Teenager Rim Jong‑un, 18, captured the national team trials in the spring and then secured five gold medals across four events on the ISU Short Track World Tour [1]. His rapid ascent makes him South Korea’s leading male contender for Milan‑Cortina [1]. Rim’s performance signals a generational shift while adding depth to the Korean squad [1].
Canadian Contenders Pose Strong Challenge Canada’s Courtney Sarault, with five individual World Tour golds across all distances, and William Dandjinou, who earned seven titles including a sweep of three distances in October, are identified as the primary threats to the Korean team [1]. Their recent results suggest a competitive field despite Korea’s historical dominance [1]. Both skaters are expected to contest medals in multiple events [1].
Olympic Schedule Sets Stage for Korean Athletes Short‑track events run from Feb. 10 to Feb. 21 at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, beginning with women’s 500 m and men’s 1,000 m heats [1]. The mixed 2,000 m relay follows, culminating in the women’s 1,500 m final on Feb. 21, where Choi will chase her third straight gold [1]. The schedule provides multiple opportunities for Korean skaters to add to their medal haul [1].
Timeline
1906 – Ahn Ik‑tae is born in Pyongyang; his composition later becomes South Korea’s national anthem, a symbol of national pride that underpins the country’s Olympic ambitions. [5]
1995 – Former President Roh Tae‑woo is indicted for accepting 280 billion won in bribes, a landmark anti‑corruption case that later informs public scrutiny of political leaders, including the 2024 martial‑law investigation. [5]
2009 – Figure‑skater Kim Yu‑na wins her third ISU Grand Prix Final in Tokyo with 188.86 points, highlighting South Korea’s emergence as a winter‑sports power. [5]
2010 – South Korea and the United States finalize a new auto‑trade agreement, reinforcing economic ties that help fund the nation’s sports development programs. [5]
2013 – The South Korean parliament approves deployment of 500 troops to the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan, demonstrating the country’s growing international role that parallels its expanding presence on the global sports stage. [5]
Dec 3 – 3, 2024 – President Yoon Suk‑Yeol declares emergency martial law, which is lifted six hours later after lawmakers overturn it; police open a treason investigation in December 2024, reflecting domestic political turbulence ahead of the 2026 Winter Games. [5]
Dec 13, 2025 – Yu Seung‑eun, 17, wins South Korea’s first World Cup big‑air snowboarding medal (silver) in Steamboat Springs, signaling a new generation of medal prospects for Milan‑Cortina. [4]
Dec 13, 2025 – Choi Gaon, also 17, captures a World Cup halfpipe title in China, reinforcing South Korea’s rising talent pool in snowboarding ahead of the Olympics. [4]
Jan 20, 2026 – A South Korean figure‑skating delegation of three men, three women, and an ice‑dance pair arrives in Beijing for the Four Continents Championships, using the event as a final Olympic warm‑up. [3]
Jan 20, 2026 – Cha Jun‑hwan battles an ankle injury, trims his program and reduces quadruple jumps, and tests new boots and blades at Four Continents to fine‑tune his routine before Milan‑Cortina. [3]
Jan 20, 2026 – Kim Hyun‑gyeom travels to Beijing seeking his Olympic debut, while Shin Ji‑a and Lee Hae‑in prepare for their first Olympic appearances after strong domestic seasons. [3]
Jan 20, 2026 – Kim Chae‑yeon withdraws with a lower‑back injury; Yun Ah‑sun steps in as her replacement, illustrating depth in the Korean women’s squad. [3]
Jan 23, 2026 – Lee Hae‑in finishes fifth at the Four Continents in Beijing with 192.66 points, struggling with under‑rotated jumps but confirming her Olympic berth for Milan‑Cortina. [2]
Jan 23, 2026 – Shin Ji‑a rebounds from a poor short program to place sixth after a strong free skate, showing resilience ahead of the Games. [2]
Jan 23, 2026 – Japan’s Yuna Aoki wins the Four Continents with 217.39 points, underscoring the regional competition Korean skaters face. [2]
Jan 23, 2026 – Cha Jun‑hwan and Kim Hyun‑gyeom are slated to skate the weekend following Four Continents, keeping their Olympic preparations on schedule. [2]
Jan 31, 2026 – Veteran short‑track star Choi Min‑jeong, after a mental‑reset season off in 2023‑24, targets a historic third straight 1,500 m gold at Milan‑Cortina, which would tie her with three other Koreans for most Olympic medals (six). [1]
Jan 31, 2026 – 18‑year‑old Rim Jong‑un, fresh from national trials and five World Tour golds, emerges as South Korea’s leading men’s short‑track contender for the upcoming Games. [1]
Jan 31, 2026 – Canadian skaters Courtney Sarault and William Dandjinou are identified as the primary threats to the Korean short‑track squad, raising the competitive stakes for Milan‑Cortina. [1]
Jan 31, 2026 – Short‑track events are scheduled for Feb. 10‑21 at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, with heats opening on Feb. 10 and the women’s 1,500 m final on Feb. 21, marking the climax of South Korea’s winter‑sport campaign. [1]
Feb 10‑21, 2026 – The Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics short‑track program unfolds, providing the stage for Choi’s gold quest, Rim’s debut, and South Korea’s pursuit of additional medals in a sport where it holds 53 Olympic medals, the most of any nation. (future event) [1]
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