South Korea’s formidable women’s short track speed skating team delivered a flawless performance in the 1000m heats at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, held at the iconic Ice Skating Arena in Milan, Italy. On February 14 and 15 (local time and Korean time, respectively), Choi Min-jeong, Kim Gilli, and Noh Do-hee all secured their spots in the quarterfinals, asserting their dominance in the sport and setting the stage for what could be a thrilling medal race in the coming days.
Choi Min-jeong, the 28-year-old veteran from Seongnam City Hall, once again proved why she’s considered the backbone of Korean short track. Racing in heat 5, Choi clocked an electrifying 1 minute 26.925 seconds—the fastest time among all 32 competitors in the heats. Her tactical prowess was on full display: she started in third, smoothly moved up to second with seven laps to go, and then seized the lead with five laps left. From there, it was all about maintaining control and composure, and Choi did just that, gliding across the finish line in first place. According to Yonhap News, “Choi Min-jeong delivered a perfect race, recording the best time among all 32 athletes.”
Choi’s performance wasn’t just another heat win; it was a statement. The two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 1500m—having captured gold at both the PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 Games—now sets her sights on her first ever 1000m Olympic gold. She previously took silver in this event at Beijing, so expectations are sky-high. As one local report noted, “Choi Min-jeong is aiming for her first gold in the 1000m, having already secured two golds in the 1500m.”
Joining Choi in the next round is 22-year-old Kim Gilli, also of Seongnam City Hall, who stormed through heat 8. Kim started strong, briefly lost the lead, but with six laps remaining, she executed a brilliant inside pass to overtake Michelle Pelzebur of the Netherlands. Kim maintained her lead to the finish, clocking 1 minute 29.656 seconds for another heat victory. The finish wasn’t without drama—Kim collided with Pelzebur at the end and fell, but she quickly got back on her feet, showing no signs of injury. As reported by Yonhap, “Kim Gilli fell after contact with Pelzebur but was uninjured.”
Noh Do-hee, the 31-year-old from Hwaseong City Hall, completed the Korean trio’s advance by finishing second in heat 2. Noh started in third, kept a close eye on the leaders, and moved up to second with six laps remaining. She held her position to the end, crossing the line at 1 minute 30.097 seconds, just behind Belgium’s Hanner Desmet. Noh’s steady nerves and tactical awareness ensured that all three Korean athletes moved on to the quarterfinals. According to the official Olympic summary, “Noh Do-hee finished 2nd in heat 2 with a time of 1 minute 30.097 seconds, behind Hanner Desmet.”
The qualification format for the 1000m event was as unforgiving as ever: only the top two finishers in each of the eight heats secured automatic berths in the quarterfinals, while the next four fastest third-place skaters across all heats also advanced. With no room for error, the Korean skaters’ clinical execution was all the more impressive. As one report succinctly put it, “The top two from each heat and the top four fastest third-place finishers among eight heats qualified for the quarterfinals.”
This resounding success in the 1000m heats comes as a much-needed boost for the Korean women’s short track team. The squad had endured some recent misfortune, having missed out on medals in both the mixed relay and the women’s 500m events earlier in the Games. According to Munhwa Ilbo, “The South Korean women’s short track team had previously faced misfortunes in the mixed relay and women’s 500m events without medaling.” With the 1000m quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals looming, the team is eager to turn the tide and bring home hardware from Milan.
Beyond individual ambitions, the Korean trio is also set to join forces in the women’s 3000m relay semifinals, scheduled shortly after the 1000m heats. Teamwork and depth have long been hallmarks of Korea’s short track program, and fans will be watching closely to see if this talented group can deliver in both individual and relay events.
The field in Milan is as competitive as ever, with international stars like Kim Boutin (Canada), Kiara Betti (Italy), and Michelle Pelzebur (Netherlands) all advancing from their respective heats. But it’s the collective strength and experience of the Korean contingent that stands out. Choi Min-jeong’s Olympic pedigree is well established, but Kim Gilli and Noh Do-hee are hungry for their own breakthrough moments on the sport’s biggest stage. As the Olympic official site highlighted, “Choi Min-jeong, Kim Gilli, and Noh Do-hee comfortably qualified for the quarterfinals in the women’s 1000m short track speed skating heats.”
For Choi, the 1000m represents unfinished business. Her silver from Beijing is a proud achievement, but nothing short of gold will satisfy her this time around. Her performance in the heats suggests she’s peaking at just the right moment. As reported, “Choi Min-jeong recorded the fastest heat time of 1 minute 26.925 seconds, indicating excellent condition.”
The schedule ahead is packed with anticipation. The women’s 1000m quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals will unfold on February 16 and 17, promising high drama and, quite possibly, more history for South Korea’s short track juggernaut. The relay semifinals, meanwhile, offer another chance for the team to showcase its depth and chemistry.
As the action continues in Milan, all eyes will be on Choi Min-jeong, Kim Gilli, and Noh Do-hee. Will Choi finally capture that elusive 1000m gold? Can Kim and Noh break through for their own podium moments? One thing’s for sure: with performances like these, the Korean women’s short track squad is once again poised to thrill fans and challenge for Olympic glory.
The next chapter of this Olympic story will be written on February 16 and 17, when the world’s best lace up for the quarterfinals and beyond. For now, the Korean skaters have done everything right—winning their heats with authority, displaying tactical brilliance, and sending a clear message to their rivals. The medal chase is on, and the excitement in Milan is just heating up.