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In final season on short track national team, Olympic champion Choi Min-jeong still leads the pack

Published: 09 Apr. 2026, 19:43

Short track speed skater Choi Min-jeong poses for a photo with her gold medals from the PyeongChang, Beijing and Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on April 11. [YONHAP]

Short track speed skater Choi Min-jeong said Thursday that the upcoming season will be her last on the national team, after finishing first overall at the opening round of the 2026-27 national team trials.

“I’m considering this my final [national team] trials,” Choi said. “If I make the national team, the 2026-2027 season will be my last as a national team member.”

Choi, who competes with the Seongnam City Hall team, reaffirmed her dominance in the first round, winning the women’s 1,000-meter final on the last day of competition with a time of 1 minute 31.237 seconds at Mokdong Ice Rink in Yangcheon District, western Seoul, on April 9.

She beat Shim Suk-hee of Seoul City Hall, who finished in 1 minute 31.814 seconds, and Kim Geon-hee of Seongnam City Hall, who recorded 1 minute 31.897 seconds.

After finishing third in the women’s 1,500 meters on the first day and first in the 500 meters on the second day, Choi topped the overall rankings with 81 points, comfortably advancing to the second trials, where the top 24 skaters compete.

The national team for the upcoming season will be selected based on combined points from the first and second trials, with the top seven earning spots.

The second trials will be held at the same venue on April 11 and 12.

Choi, who has won four gold and three silver medals across three Olympic Games, announced retirement from the Olympics after completing her final race at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, but plans to continue competing in international and domestic events.

Shim finished second overall with 42 points, while Kim Min-ji of Korea National Sport University placed third with 34 points.

In the men’s 1,000 meters, Lee Jeong-min of Seongnam City Hall, who delivered a strong performance in the men’s 5,000-meter relay at the 2026 Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics, won with a time of 1 minute 27.913 seconds. Lee Gyu-ho of Korea National Sport University finished second in 1 minute 28.118 seconds, followed closely by Lee Sun-ho of Dankook University in 1 minute 28.162 seconds.

Kim Tae-sung of Hwaseong City Hall, who won the 500 meters and 1,500 meters, took first place in the first trials with 68 points, followed by Lee Jeong-min with 63 points and Lee Gyu-ho with 29 points.

Meanwhile, Rim Jong-un of Goyang City Hall and Kim Gil-li of Seongnam City Hall, who each won two titles at this year’s World Championships, have been automatically selected for the national team for the upcoming season according to regulations.

As a result, the top seven overall finishers from the first and second trials will earn spots on the national team. Along with Rim and Kim, the top two finishers in each division will also qualify for individual events at international competitions next season.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KIM HYO-KYOUNG [[email protected]]