In a commanding performance at the Milan speed skating stadium, team captain Jeong Jae-won clinched victory in the men’s mass start event during the selection trials for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. The win secures his spot as one of the top five contenders.
Race Highlights
The 16-lap (6,400m) final unfolded on February 22 Korean time, with Jeong asserting dominance early. He lapped groups of skaters in laps 4, 8, and 12, accumulating time advantages of 5, 3, and 1 seconds respectively in those segments. By the final lap, his lead swelled to 60, 40, and 20 seconds over the top three, sealing a decisive triumph.
Coming off a third-place finish in the previous heat, Jeong surged ahead, pushing rivals like a French skater to their limits. He overcame early jitters in the Italian cold, accelerating past Danish Viltoft in lap 4 with a crucial spurt, reclaiming 2 seconds before teammate Jo Ban-ni-ni regained 1 second. In lap 8, Jeong paced conservatively to 11th before unleashing pace in laps 12, maintaining poise amid aggressive moves.
Overcoming Challenges
Jeong reflected on the intensity: “I felt nervous at the start, unable to settle into the pack despite pushing two skaters ahead. I focused on just two laps at a time, building momentum. Though I erred on one lap, the final stretch felt strong. Regret lingers from not maximizing the last relay, but overall, satisfaction prevails.”
He added, “Risk was involved. Overconfidence exploded differences, and positioning centrally helped recover time. Even without full recovery, the mindset shifted positively. Embracing change in mass start delivered the best result, fostering growth. The outcome matched expectations despite anxiety.”
Lee Seung-hoon’s Enduring Impact
Mass start demands significant adaptation, even for legends like Lee Seung-hoon, whose talent South Korean skaters still admire. Lee’s double gold at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics marked his era, yet after 12 years without a mass start medal since his 2014 Sochi 10,000m gold, evolution proves essential.
Jeong acknowledged, “Mass start demands real change, regardless of strength. With Seung-hoon-type Olympics, World Cups, I’ve confronted changes I couldn’t imagine, crafting rewarding races. This time, without such pressure, recovery proved impossible. Yet Seung-hoon’s presence shone in majors. Juniors must heed that Olympic caliber.”
Jeong aims to inspire: “I share this growth sentiment with juniors, believing they can match Seung-hoon’s caliber. Still competing, I couldn’t become that benchmark myself. Through performance, I’ll motivate further.”
Looking Ahead
Not content with one victory, Jeong eyes the next Olympics: “Even prepping felt more intense with more training. Though I thought I’d prepared diligently, results showed peers matching that effort. That realization fueled learning. Next Olympics won’t rely solely on prep; bolder advances will crown leading skaters.”
