The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics have delivered their fair share of drama, and for South Korea’s short track speed skating hopefuls, the men’s 500m event proved to be a particularly tough battleground. On February 16, at the Ice Skating Arena in Milan, both Hwang Dae-heon and Lim Jong-eon—each already medalists at these Games—were eliminated in the preliminary heats, dashing hopes of a Korean resurgence in one of the sport’s most unpredictable distances.
For fans of Korean short track, the 500m has always been a bit of a white whale. Despite the country’s storied legacy in longer distances, the shortest race on the Olympic program has often slipped from their grasp. This year was no exception, as only Hwang and Lim managed to qualify for the event, both carrying the weight of national expectation and their own recent successes. Hwang, a veteran with four Olympic medals to his name, and Lim, a rising star who stunned many with his 1000m bronze earlier in the week, were both expected to at least challenge for a spot in the final rounds.
Yet, the ice had other ideas. The men’s 500m heats are notoriously chaotic, and both Koreans found themselves on the wrong side of mere fractions of a second. Hwang Dae-heon took to the ice in heat 4, lining up against a formidable field that included China’s Liu Shaoang and Poland’s Felix Pigeon. From the start, Hwang slotted into third position, constantly searching for an opening. He pressed relentlessly, trying to break through on the inside, but the defensive tactics of his rivals left little room for error. As the bell rang for the final lap, Hwang made one last desperate push, lunging for the line in a photo finish. The scoreboard told the story: Hwang clocked 41.191 seconds, just 0.012 seconds behind Pigeon’s 41.179. Only the top two from each heat and the fastest third-placers would advance, and Hwang’s time left him agonizingly short.
It was a bitter pill for the 27-year-old, who had captured silver in this very event at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics and added another silver in the 1500m just days earlier in Milan. According to Yonhap News, "Hwang Dae-heon finished 3rd in heat 4 with a time of 41.191 seconds, failing to advance to the quarterfinals as only the top two and the fastest 12 third-place finishers advance." For a skater who has stood atop podiums across multiple Games, the disappointment was palpable. Hwang’s Olympic legacy remains impressive, with gold in the 1500m and relay silver from Beijing, but the elusive 500m gold will have to wait at least another four years—if the veteran chooses to continue.
Lim Jong-eon, just 19 and already a bronze medalist in the 1000m, faced a similarly daunting challenge in heat 8. The draw pitted him against the likes of Andrew He (USA), Lin Shaojun (China), and Niall Tracy (UK). The race started with fireworks: Lim and Tracy collided hard before the first corner, both tumbling to the ice and forcing a restart. With nerves reset and adrenaline pumping, the field lined up once more. This time, Andrew He surged to the front, with Lin and Lim in hot pursuit. Lim tried to bide his time, hoping to unleash a late burst on the outside. But as he swung wide in the final laps, his balance faltered, and the gap proved insurmountable. He crossed the line third in 41.289 seconds, behind He (41.136) and Lin (41.242), missing the cut for the next round.
"Lim Jong-eon finished 3rd in heat 8 with a time of 41.289 seconds, failing to advance to the quarterfinals," reported NewSis, noting the intensity of the battle and Lim’s valiant, if ultimately unsuccessful, attempts to overtake his rivals. The young skater’s Olympic debut has nevertheless been a breakthrough, with his earlier 1000m bronze marking him as a future star in Korean short track.
The drama of the 500m was heightened by the presence of Lin Shaojun, the Chinese skater who was once known as Im Hyo-jun when he competed for South Korea. Lin, who made headlines for his switch of national allegiance following a suspension in 2019, advanced to the quarterfinals, continuing his quest for a third Olympic medal in this event. His rivalry with Korean skaters remains a talking point, and his consistent performances underscore the increasingly international nature of short track’s elite ranks.
For South Korea, the 500m continues to be a source of frustration. The nation failed to medal in the event at the 2022 Beijing Games, and with only two entrants in Milan, the odds were always stacked against a breakthrough. As Yonhap noted, "South Korea failed to win a medal in the men's 500m event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics as well." This year’s results reinforce the need for renewed focus on the sprint distance if Korea hopes to reclaim dominance across all short track events.
Despite the disappointment, both Hwang and Lim have plenty to be proud of at these Games. Hwang’s silver in the 1500m and Lim’s bronze in the 1000m have kept Korea’s medal tally ticking, and both skaters will now turn their attention to the men’s 5000m relay—a discipline where Korea’s depth and teamwork are historically second to none. The relay promises another chance for redemption and a shot at gold, with the two skaters now able to channel their frustration from the 500m into a collective effort for national glory.
The 500m medal race itself is set for February 19, with Lin Shaojun, Andrew He, and others in the hunt. While Korea will not be represented, the event remains a must-watch for fans of the sport’s high-speed drama and razor-thin margins. Every Olympics brings its share of heartbreak and triumph, and for Hwang Dae-heon and Lim Jong-eon, the story of Milan-Cortina 2026 is far from over.
As the Olympic schedule rolls on, all eyes will now turn to the relay, where the spirit of Korean short track—a blend of resilience, ambition, and teamwork—will once again take center stage. The 500m may have slipped away, but the pursuit of Olympic glory continues, one stride at a time.