South Korea’s short track speed skating team faced a dramatic collision during the 2000m team pursuit relay at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy on February 10.
Intense Preliminaries Marked by Collision
The team, consisting of captain Kim Gil-li from Isaeng Seongnam City, Hwang Dae-heon from Gangwon Provincial Office, and Im Jong-eon from Goyang City, competed in the second preliminary round against Canada, Belgium, and the United States.
South Korea clocked 2 minutes, 46.554 seconds to secure third place, trailing Canada and Belgium but ahead of the US. During the race, US skater Corbin Stoddard, who had taken the lead, collided with a Korean athlete while attempting to navigate the cones.
Canada’s rider avoided the fallen Stoddard, but Kim Gil-li powered through severe rib pain and streaming tears to deliver a strong final lap. Despite the injury, no penalties were issued, though the incident led to disappointment in the classification final.
Kim Gil-li expressed, “It’s not a major injury, but it hurts a lot.”
B Final Push Secures Sixth Overall
Switching to a lineup of Noh Do-hui from Hwaseong City and Hwang Dae-heon from Goryeo University for the B final, South Korea finished second, ending up sixth overall in the 2000m event.
Olympic Stakes and Rivalry Background
Ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, the US eyes dominance in short track, with Stoddard having previously bested Kim Gil-li in the women’s 1000m at the December 2024 Seoul World Cup.
Kim Gil-li noted, “Milan suits me and my coach perfectly. The competition is sharp, and the ice tastes great.” Yet, the performance fell short of expectations, evoking comparisons to past controversies.
South Korea has medaled in major Olympics but struggled in this team event recently, heightening the pressure for upcoming competitions.
