🏅 Choi Min-jeong Hits 101 World Cup Medals! Behind the Last-Season Sprint 🛼 - 2026.10.27 | Short Track

Hello, fans! 🛼 Still feeling the thrill of yesterday's comeback in Vancouver? Let's take a closer look today!

🥇 Behind Lee Jung-min's Inside Comeback

The men's 5000m relay gold came amid a last-minute change. Ace Lim Jong-eon fell in the men's 1000m final and hurt his backside, so rookie Lee Gyu-ho, 20, stepped in ^[1]. Korea was stuck near the bottom until four laps remained, but Lee dove inside to pass China and kick off the comeback ^[6]!

Anchor Lee Jung-min accelerated explosively with two laps left and closed in on the Canadian skater ^[1]. On the final corner, he dropped low and slipped through the inside gap the moment it opened ^[1]. After the win, he said, "It's our first gold this season, and I'm so happy" ^[6]. He also explained the meaning behind the 'New Face' celebration ^[7].

Lee also won two medals in one day, anchoring the mixed 2000m relay from third to second for silver ^[6]. Add Bae Seo-chan's bronze in the men's 1000m, and the men's team shone bright ^[3]! Lim Jong-eon, meanwhile, went down while attempting an outside pass near the finish and missed a medal ^[1]. Korea's women's 500m team also failed to reach the final ^[1].

👑 Choi Min-jeong's 101st Medal Milestone

Now for Choi Min-jeong! She shared a photo of her medal on social media with the message "101st World Cup & World Tour medal" ^[2]. She opened with 1000m gold on day one ^[2], then added silver in the women's 3000m relay and mixed 2000m relay to reach her 100th medal ^[2]. On the final day she took bronze in the women's 1500m, earning medals in all four events she entered ^[2].

The 1500m was a drama. She sat sixth through five laps, surged to the front on lap six, and held the lead through lap 13 ^[2]. She was passed by Courtney Sakai and Hanne Desmet on the last lap but held on for third ^[2]. Shim Suk-hee finished sixth in the same race ^[1].

Her résumé speaks for itself. Over the last three Winter Olympics she won four golds and three silvers, and her four Olympic golds tie Jeon Yi-kyung for the most by a Korean athlete ^[2]. She has 24 worldchampionship medals, including 17 golds, and five golds at the Winter Asian Games ^[2].

🎬 A Final Season, A Final Sprint

Choi has announced that this season will be her last on the national team. She said, "This is my final season," and vowed to give everything so she has no regrets ^[2]. Many want her to keep skating, but for now, her mind is not expected to change ^[4]. Her farewell stage will be the world championships in Seoul next March ^[4], ^[2]!

🗓️ What's Next?

After wrapping up World Tour Stage 1, the team heads to Montreal, Canada, for Stage 2 starting on the 31st ^[1]. Can't wait to see what more magic Lee Jung-min and Choi Min-jeong's final sprint will create! 🔥

Keep cheering for our skaters, fans! 📣