South Korean short track speed skater Kim Gil-li captured a bronze medal in the women’s 1000m final at the Milan World Cup on February 16, 2026, in Milan, Italy. Clocking a time of 1:28.614, she crossed the line third behind the Netherlands’ Sanneke de Neeling and Canada’s Courtney Sarault.
Race Highlights
Kim Gil-li overcame a fiercely competitive field in her season-opening medal win. Starting strong in the pre-final with a second-place finish, she navigated chaos in the final, including five laps where rivals faltered. A Belgian skater stumbled early, allowing Kim to surge ahead, while penalties sidelined leading contenders in the latter stages.
Despite trailing briefly, Kim maintained composure through lane changes and regained momentum, powering to the bronze. Her victory marked a breakthrough after earlier races without podium finishes.
Teammate Tears of Joy
Fellow South Korean Choi Min-jeong, despite her own elimination earlier, watched emotionally from the sidelines. Tears streamed down her face as Kim secured the medal. Choi rushed to embrace her teammate at the finish, celebrating the hard-fought achievement.
Choi Min-jeong, a two-time Olympic gold medalist from PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022, aims for a third consecutive Winter Olympics title. She praised Kim, stating, “After grabbing the medal, my eyes hurt a bit because Gil-li cried so much. I ran over, hugged her, and told her she did great.”
Olympic Ambitions
Kim Gil-li expressed satisfaction post-race, noting the medal’s significance amid a demanding season. She remains focused on upcoming 1500m and mass start events to bolster her Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic qualification chances. Choi Min-jeong highlighted Kim’s resilience, saying she deserved the moment after enduring tough training.
