When the dust settled at the Ice Skating Arena in Milan on February 16, 2026, it was Kim Gilli who stood out as South Korea’s latest short track sensation, clinching a hard-fought bronze in the women’s 1000m at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. For fans back home and around the globe, this was more than just another medal—it was a story of perseverance, resilience, and the emergence of a new star on the ice.
Kim Gilli, just 22 and making her Olympic debut, wasn’t the favorite heading into the event. Yet, by the end of the night, she had become a household name, draped in the Korean flag, tears of relief and joy streaming down her face as she greeted a roaring crowd. Her time of 1 minute 28.614 seconds was enough to secure third place behind Sandra Belzebur of the Netherlands (1:28.437) and Canada’s Courtney Sarault (1:28.523).
It wasn’t a straightforward path to the podium for Kim. In fact, her journey through the heats and semifinals was fraught with drama and adversity. Earlier in the day, Kim had advanced from her quarterfinal heat with a time of 1:29.068, finishing second behind Belzebur. But the real test came in the semifinals, where disaster nearly struck. With five laps to go, Belgian skater Hanne Desmet made contact, sending Kim tumbling to the ice. Despite the fall, Kim got up and finished the race, and the judges, recognizing the foul, advanced her to the final through an ‘advancement’ ruling.
"There were so many collisions throughout the tournament, so my goal in the final was just not to fall," Kim said after the race, according to local reporters. "I feel so relieved now." That relief was evident as she skated her victory lap, waving to the crowd, the weight of the bronze medal around her neck and the Korean flag fluttering behind her.
The final itself was a tactical and nerve-wracking affair. Kim started in the fifth lane among five competitors, initially taking up the rear. As the laps ticked down, she made her move, surging into third with four laps to go. For a fleeting moment, she even climbed to second, but Sarault’s late push relegated her back to third. Kim held her nerve, crossing the line to secure South Korea’s sixth medal of these Games—and the first for a Korean woman in short track at Milan-Cortina.
Kim’s journey to this moment is a testament to her determination. She first laced up her skates at age seven, inspired by figure skating legend Kim Yuna. Although she initially wanted to pursue figure skating, local opportunities led her to short track, where her natural athleticism quickly shone through. Her mother once recalled, "She liked pretty things, but there were no figure skating classes nearby, so she started short track instead." By the time she was in elementary school, Kim was already winning national competitions, and in 2020, she captured gold at the Junior World Championships in the 1000m.
Despite her early promise, Kim’s Olympic dream was nearly derailed when she failed to qualify for the 2022 Beijing Games. That setback only fueled her resolve. In May 2025, she stormed through the fiercely competitive Korean national trials, earning her spot on the Olympic team. The 2023–24 World Cup season saw her finish atop the overall rankings, cementing her reputation as one of the sport’s rising stars and earning her the nickname ‘Lamborghilli’—a nod to her speed and the famous Italian supercar.
But Milan wasn’t all smooth skating for Kim. Earlier in the Games, she suffered a painful fall in the mixed relay semifinals, colliding with American skater Corinne Stoddard and suffering skin abrasions. In the 1000m heats and semifinals, she endured two more falls, including the controversial incident with Desmet. Yet, each time, Kim got back up, determined to keep her Olympic dream alive. "I just wanted to finish the 1000m without regrets," she said, her voice a mixture of exhaustion and pride. "The competition here is on another level. The Olympics only come every four years, so I gave it everything I had."
Kim’s bronze medal was met with jubilation from her teammates and coaches. Choi Minjeong, the veteran ace of the Korean squad and a mentor to Kim, was among the first to embrace her after the race. Choi’s own Olympic journey ended in disappointment; she was eliminated in the semifinals and finished 8th overall after placing third in the ranking final (Final B) with a time of 1:31.208. Still, her support for Kim was unwavering. "I was so happy that my respected senior cheered for me," Kim said, wiping away tears. "Everyone told me I did well, and I’m so grateful."
For Choi, a two-time Olympic champion and one of the sport’s legends, the Milan Games marked a changing of the guard. Kim’s emergence signals a bright future for Korean women’s short track, even as the competition grows fiercer with each Olympic cycle. The Netherlands’ Sandra Belzebur, who took gold, has now claimed two titles at these Games, having previously won the 500m event—a sign that the balance of power in short track continues to shift.
Kim’s bronze was not just a personal triumph; it also marked South Korea’s sixth medal of the 2026 Winter Olympics, joining a tally that includes medals in snowboarding and men’s short track. For the Korean delegation, her performance was a much-needed boost, especially after a string of near-misses in other events.
Looking ahead, Kim is brimming with confidence. She’s set to compete in the women’s 1500m and the 3000m relay later in the Games, and after her gritty performance in the 1000m, expectations are sky-high. "Now that the 1000m is over, I feel more confident," she said. "I think I can skate even better in the 1500m and relay. I just need to give it my all."
As the lights dimmed in Milan and the crowd’s cheers faded, Kim Gilli’s story stood as a reminder of what makes the Olympics so special: the drama, the setbacks, the comebacks, and the sheer joy of an athlete realizing a lifelong dream. South Korea may have a new queen of the ice, and her journey is just beginning.