South Korea’s women’s short track speed skating team delivered a performance for the ages at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, capturing gold in the fiercely contested 3000m relay and reigniting their legacy as the sport’s world powerhouse. The race, held at the Ice Skating Arena in Milan, Italy, on February 18, 2026 (local time), saw Choi Min-jung, Kim Gi-li, Noh Do-hee, and Shim Seok-hee skate their way into Olympic history, clocking a winning time of 4 minutes 4.014 seconds.
This triumph didn’t come easy. The South Korean quartet, known for their tactical brilliance and resilience, faced stiff competition from perennial rivals Italy, Canada, and the Netherlands. The early laps saw Choi Min-jung, the team’s anchor and a decorated Olympian, seize the lead with a blistering start. But as the laps ticked down, the race turned into a dramatic chess match on ice.
With 25 laps to go, Canada surged ahead, pushing South Korea into second. The tension ratcheted up further when the Netherlands, always a threat in relay events, overtook South Korea for second place with 20 laps left. Then, disaster nearly struck: at the 16-lap mark, a Dutch skater crashed, triggering a near-collision that forced the Korean team to swerve and lose precious speed. Italy and Canada capitalized, pulling away as South Korea regrouped in third.
But this is a team built for comebacks. According to multiple reports, the Korean squad launched a relentless chase, their determination palpable with every stride. With nine laps remaining, they reeled in the leaders. The pivotal moment came with three and a half laps to go: Shim Seok-hee, displaying impeccable timing, gave Choi Min-jung a powerful push, propelling her past Canada and into second. The crowd roared as Kim Gi-li, the final skater, made her move with just 1.5 laps left, overtaking Italy and refusing to relinquish her hard-won lead all the way to the finish line.
As Kim Gi-li crossed the finish, her triumphant roar echoed through the arena. The team’s joy was unmistakable as they waved the Taegeukgi, South Korea’s national flag, and celebrated their hard-fought victory. Italy finished a breath behind with a time of 4:04.107, while Canada claimed bronze at 4:04.314.
This gold medal was especially sweet for South Korea. Not only did it end an eight-year drought in the women’s 3000m relay—since their last Olympic gold in the event at Pyeongchang 2018—it also marked the first gold for South Korea in short track at these Games and the nation’s second gold overall in Milan, following snowboarder Choi Ga-on’s victory in the women’s halfpipe.
For Choi Min-jung, the moment was historic on a personal level. Already a household name in South Korean sports, Choi’s fourth Olympic gold puts her in rarefied company. She now matches the legendary Jeon Yi-kyung for the most Olympic golds by a Korean short track skater. With a total of six Olympic medals, Choi also ties the all-time Korean record for most Olympic medals across both summer and winter Games, sharing the honor with shooter Jin Jong-oh, archer Kim Soo-nyung, and speed skater Lee Seung-hoon.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling to win gold with my teammates,” Choi Min-jung was quoted as saying by local media. “We faced so many challenges during the race, but we never gave up. This medal means so much to all of us and to everyone supporting Korean short track.”
The gold was also a redemption story. At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, South Korea had to settle for silver in this event. The Milan victory, then, marked a return to the top of the Olympic podium—a testament to the team’s resilience and the nation’s rich tradition in the sport. Since the women’s 3000m relay was introduced at the 1992 Albertville Olympics, South Korea has now won gold in this event seven times out of ten, reaffirming its dominance despite the growing parity in international short track.
Kim Gi-li, the race’s final skater, emerged as a breakout star. Not only did she anchor the relay with a decisive move past Italy, but her medal haul at these Games has also made her a rising figure in Korean short track. After the race, Kim was seen celebrating with unbridled emotion, her “golden roar” capturing the spirit of a new generation of Korean athletes.
Shim Seok-hee and Noh Do-hee, both crucial to the relay’s success, contributed with strategic exchanges and vital pushes that kept South Korea in contention throughout the race. While Lee So-yeon was also mentioned among the team’s lineup, the primary quartet’s synergy was evident every step of the way.
“We knew it would come down to the final laps,” said Shim Seok-hee. “Our coaches told us to stay calm and trust our training. When I pushed Min-jung, I knew she’d make the move we needed.”
With this victory, South Korea’s medal tally at the Milan Games rose to seven, including medals in snowboarding and other short track events. Prior to the relay, the short track team had earned one silver and two bronze medals but had been shut out of gold—until now.
The win also sets the stage for more history. Choi Min-jung is now poised to attempt an unprecedented three-peat in the women’s 1500m short track event. Should she succeed, she’ll become the first athlete ever to win three consecutive Olympic titles in a single short track discipline—a feat that would surely cement her legacy as one of the sport’s greatest.
Elsewhere in the short track program, Chinese skater Lin Shaojun (Korean name Im Hyo-jun) failed to advance to the semifinals in the men’s 500m, finishing fourth in his heat—a stark reminder of the razor-thin margins and heartbreaks that define Olympic competition.
Looking ahead, South Korea’s hopes remain high for the remaining short track events, including the men’s 5000m relay and the women’s 1500m final. If the women’s relay is any indication, fans can expect more fireworks and perhaps another chapter in this remarkable Olympic story.
As the team took a victory lap around the rink, flags waving and smiles beaming, it was clear that this gold wasn’t just a medal—it was a statement. South Korea is back on top, and the world is once again on notice.