The spotlight was squarely on South Korea’s short track speed skating squad as the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics entered its tenth day, with the women’s 1000m event taking center stage at the Ice Skating Arena in Milan. Expectations soared for Choi Min-jeong, the undisputed ace of Korean women’s short track, and rising star Kim Gilli, both aiming to etch their names in Olympic history on February 16, 2026.
Choi Min-jeong, widely celebrated for her 1500m prowess, carried the hopes of a nation hungry for more Olympic glory. Yet, it was the 1000m—an event in which she clinched silver at the 2022 Beijing Games, missing gold by a razor-thin 0.052 seconds—that beckoned as her shot at redemption after a string of near-misses earlier in the week. The narrative was compelling: Choi, after failing to reach the mixed relay final and bowing out in the women’s 500m semifinals, was determined to shake off disappointment and charge for gold.
“You could see the fire in her eyes after that 500m,” remarked a Korean team official, referencing Choi’s emotional reaction following her semifinal exit. Indeed, she bounced back with authority during the 1000m qualifiers on February 15, posting the fastest time—1:26.925—and later powering the team into the 3000m relay final with two dramatic comeback legs. The message was clear: Choi was far from finished.
As the women’s 1000m quarterfinals kicked off at 7:00 PM Korean time, Choi faced stiff competition in her heat, lining up against Italy’s living legend Arianna Fontana, Canada’s Kim Boutin, Italy’s Chiara Betti, and Poland’s Gabriela Topolska. Fellow Koreans Kim Gilli and Noh Do-hee also advanced from the qualifiers, giving South Korea a formidable presence in the event’s latter stages.
But the semifinals would prove to be the true crucible. The draw saw Kim Gilli in the first heat alongside Hanne Desmet (Belgium), Florence Brunelle (Canada), Gong Li (China), and Cassandra Pelzer (Netherlands), while Choi Min-jeong battled in the second heat against Courtney Sarault (Canada), Arianna Fontana (Italy), Elisa Confortola (Italy), and Alona Krilova (AIN).
Kim Gilli, relatively new to the Olympic stage but already showing nerves of steel, delivered a performance that had fans on the edge of their seats. Starting from the fifth and final position, she surged to the front with seven laps to go. But the race was far from over. With five laps left, Cassandra Pelzer, fresh off her gold in the 500m, overtook Kim, setting up a tense battle for the remaining spots in the final.
The drama reached its peak when Hanne Desmet attempted a daring outside pass. In a heart-stopping moment, Desmet collided with Kim Gilli, sending the Korean skater tumbling. The referees quickly reviewed the incident, ultimately disqualifying Desmet for the contact and clearing Kim’s path to Final A. “It was a chaotic moment, but Kim’s composure under pressure was remarkable,” said a coach from the Korean camp.
Choi Min-jeong’s semifinal, meanwhile, was a tactical chess match. Arianna Fontana, buoyed by the home crowd, set the early pace before Courtney Sarault made her move. Choi, ever the strategist, waited patiently in fourth with three laps remaining, eyeing an opening for a late surge. But as the bell rang for the final lap, the gap proved insurmountable. Despite a valiant sprint, Choi crossed the line in fourth, missing out on a place in Final A.
For Choi, the result was a bitter pill. After dominating the qualifiers and carrying the nation’s expectations, her Olympic 1000m campaign ended one round shy of the medal race. Yet, her earlier heroics in the relay and her legacy as a two-time Olympic medalist remain unshaken. “She gave everything she had,” said a Korean team spokesperson. “Sometimes, that’s just how short track goes.”
As the clock struck 8:47 PM, the women’s 1000m Final A took center stage. The lineup: Courtney Sarault (Canada), Arianna Fontana (Italy), Cassandra Pelzer (Netherlands), Gong Li (China), and Kim Gilli (South Korea). Kim, now the sole Korean hope in the final, started from the outside. She quickly made her presence felt, pushing the pace early before Pelzer seized the lead with five laps to go. The race’s defining moment came as Kim, still recovering from her semifinal spill, fought to keep pace with the leaders, displaying grit that belied her years.
Ultimately, it was Cassandra Pelzer who crossed the finish line first, cementing her status as a dual gold medalist at Milano-Cortina after her earlier triumph in the 500m. Kim Gilli, while missing the top step of the podium, earned invaluable experience and the admiration of fans and coaches alike for her tenacity and breakthrough performance. “Kim showed today that she belongs among the world’s best,” said a Korean team official. “This is just the beginning for her.”
The Korean women’s squad, featuring Choi Min-jeong, Kim Gilli, Noh Do-hee, Lee So-yeon, and veteran Shim Suk-hee, demonstrated both depth and resilience throughout the competition. And with several skaters making their Olympic debuts, the future looks bright for Korean short track.
On the men’s side, South Korea’s medal tally continued to grow. Hwang Dae-heon secured silver in the 1500m, while Lim Jong-eon captured bronze in the 1000m. Both skaters returned to the ice on February 16, contesting the men’s 500m qualifiers and teaming up for the 5000m relay semifinals. Lim, in particular, was eager to redeem himself after an unexpected exit in the 1500m quarterfinals. “He’s got something to prove,” said his coach. “Watch for fireworks in the relay.”
The day’s packed schedule included the women’s 1000m quarterfinals, men’s 500m qualifiers, women’s 1000m semifinals, men’s 5000m relay semifinals, and both the 1000m Final B and Final A for the women. Every race delivered its share of thrills and heartbreak, proving once again why short track remains one of the most unpredictable and electrifying events of the Winter Games.
As the dust settles in Milan, South Korea’s short track team can hold their heads high. While Choi Min-jeong’s quest for 1000m gold fell just short, Kim Gilli’s emergence signals a new era for the nation’s storied program. With more events still to come and the relay finals looming, there’s no telling what surprises await in the days ahead.