The tension was palpable at the Milan Speed Skating Stadium on February 21, 2026, as the world’s best female speed skaters gathered for the women’s 1500m final at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Among the 29 athletes vying for Olympic glory, South Korea’s Park Ji-woo and Lim Ri-won stepped onto the ice with determination, hopes high for a breakthrough performance on the sport’s grandest stage.
Yet, as the final times flashed on the scoreboard, both Korean athletes were left with mixed emotions. Park Ji-woo, representing the Gangwon Province Office, completed her race in 1 minute 58.26 seconds, placing 21st out of 29 competitors. Lim Ri-won, a prospective student at Korea National Sport University making her Olympic debut, finished 28th with a time of 1 minute 59.73 seconds. While both skaters gave their all, the coveted podium spots remained just out of reach.
For Lim Ri-won, the day was a whirlwind of nerves and excitement. Making her first Olympic appearance is no small feat, and the pressure was evident as she lined up for her heat. Lim started strong, passing the first 300 meters in 26.49 seconds—a pace that briefly put her ahead of Norway’s Erla Grenda Løvlund. But as the race progressed, Lim’s energy waned. Løvlund surged ahead in the middle laps, ultimately overtaking Lim. Crossing the finish line, Lim paused to catch her breath, visibly disappointed but proud of her effort. According to Newsis, Lim "appeared disappointed after the race," reflecting the high standards she sets for herself.
Park Ji-woo, meanwhile, was no stranger to the Olympic spotlight. Having set the Korean national record for the 1500m with a blistering 1 minute 54.05 seconds in November 2025, expectations were sky-high. In Milan, Park was assigned to the fifth heat alongside Austria’s Janine Rossner. Starting from the outer lane, she clocked 26.25 seconds for the opening 300 meters, marginally ahead of Rossner. But as the laps ticked by, Park’s pace slowed. By the midpoint, Rossner had edged ahead, and despite Park’s best efforts to close the gap in the final stretch, she finished 1.02 seconds behind her Austrian rival. After the race, Park was seen checking her time, the disappointment clear on her face. As reported by News1, "Park finished 21st with a time of 1 minute 58.26 seconds, which was slower than her Korean record of 1 minute 54.05 seconds set in November 2025."
The day, however, belonged to the Netherlands’ Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong. The 30-year-old Dutch veteran, competing in her fourth Olympics, finally captured her first Olympic gold in the 1500m. With a time of 1 minute 54.09 seconds, Rijpma-de Jong edged out Norway’s Ragne Wiklund by a razor-thin margin of just 0.06 seconds. Canada’s Valerie Maltais, another seasoned competitor, took bronze with 1 minute 54.40 seconds. Rijpma-de Jong’s victory was especially sweet, as she had previously settled for bronze in this event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. According to Yonhap News, "Rijpma-de Jong’s first Olympic gold medal came in her fourth Olympic appearance, having won bronze in the same event in 2022."
Maltais’s performance was a testament to her enduring prowess on the ice. The Canadian not only added a bronze in the 1500m to her medal haul but also boasted a gold in the team pursuit and a bronze in the 3000m at these Games, cementing her status as a multi-medal winner. Wiklund’s silver further highlighted the depth of talent in women’s speed skating, as the Norwegian pushed Rijpma-de Jong to the very limit.
For the South Korean contingent, the focus now shifts to the mass start event, scheduled for later on February 21. Both Park Ji-woo and Lim Ri-won are set to compete, aiming to leave a stronger mark in their favored discipline. The mass start, with its tactical complexity and unpredictable nature, has often played to the strengths of Korean skaters. Park, in particular, is known for her strategic acumen in group races—could this be where she finds redemption?
Reflecting on the 1500m, it’s clear that both Park and Lim faced formidable competition. Miho Takagi of Japan, the world record holder in the event with a time of 1 minute 49.83 seconds, finished a surprising sixth in Milan, clocking 1 minute 54.86 seconds and missing out on the medals. The level of performance required to reach the podium has never been higher, and even the world’s best can find themselves off the pace on the day.
The 1500m event at the Milan Cortina Olympics was not just a showcase of speed but also of resilience and ambition. For Rijpma-de Jong, the gold was the culmination of years of perseverance. For Maltais, it was another chapter in a storied career. And for Park and Lim, it was a learning experience—one that will undoubtedly fuel their drive for future success.
Despite not reaching the podium, both Korean skaters demonstrated the grit and determination that have made their country a force in international speed skating. Lim’s Olympic debut, while bittersweet, marks the beginning of what promises to be a long and successful career. Park, already an established name, remains a contender in the mass start and other events to come.
As the sun set over Milan and the ice was cleared for the next wave of competition, the women’s 1500m delivered drama, disappointment, and dreams realized. The focus now turns to the mass start, where Park Ji-woo and Lim Ri-won will have another shot at Olympic glory. Their performances in the 1500m may not have ended with medals, but the experience gained and the lessons learned will serve them well as the Games continue.
With the world watching, the story of Park Ji-woo and Lim Ri-won is far from over. The Milan Cortina Olympics have already witnessed historic moments, and as the action moves forward, fans can expect more thrilling races, unexpected twists, and perhaps, redemption for Korea’s speed skating hopefuls.