🏁 Choi Min-jeong's Last Dance Begins! Top Qualifiers in Every Event on Day One - 2026.10.24 | Short Track

Hello, fans! 🛼 Short track lovers, Choi Min-jeong's last dance has officially begun, and day one was electric! 🔥

🏁 Choi Min-jeong Tops Every Event on Day One!

On day one of the ISU Short Track World Tour 1st stage at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, Choi Min-jeong won every qualifying heat she entered ^[1]. In the women's 500m second qualifier, Heat 5, she crossed the line first in 43.613 seconds, ahead of Italy's Margherita Betti ^[4]. She also topped Heat 4 of the 1000m second qualifier in 1:30.820 ^[3]. In the 1500m quarterfinal, her main event, she clocked 2:36.097 to beat China's Zhang Zianing by just 0.077 seconds. What a thrilling comeback finish! ⚡ ^[2]

After announcing in April that she would give up her national team spot after the 2026-2027 season, Choi is showing that her form is anything but fading ^[4]. Her medal hunt officially begins today, the 25th ^[10]! 🥇

🇰🇷 Team Korea's Results Vary by Event

In the women's 500m, every Korean skater besides Choi was eliminated. Kim Gil-li finished 4th in Heat 7, Choi Ji-hyeon finished 3rd in Heat 3, and Kim Min-ji received a penalty in Heat 1 ^[3]. Tough news, but there's still room for a comeback! 💪

In the 1000m and 1500m, every Korean skater advanced to the next round ^[1]. In the 1000m, Kim Gil-li and Shim Suk-hee finished 2nd in Heats 7 and 8 ^[3]. In the 1500m quarterfinal Heat 1, Kim Gil-li, Kim Min-ji, and Shim Suk-hee took places 1 through 3 ^[1]. Pure dominance! 🎉

🧑 Lim Jong-un Shines in the Men's Events

Lim Jong-un was a standout. In Heat 1 of the 500m second qualifier, he clocked 40.702 to beat Canada's Steven Dubois for first place ^[5]. He also topped his heats in the 1000m and in the 1500m, where he finished in 2:27.754 ^[1]. Shin Dong-min finished 2nd in the same 1500m heat and advanced ^[6]. Lee Jung-min advanced from 2nd place in the 500m ^[2], while Bae Seo-chan and Kim Tae-sung were eliminated in the 500m ^[2].

🤝 Relay Teams Are Rolling Too!

The men's 5000m relay team of Shin Dong-min, Lee Jung-min, Kim Tae-sung, and Lee Gyu-ho finished in 7:20.151, beating Great Britain (7:22.165) to win their heat and advance to the semifinals ^[2]. The mixed 2000m relay of Lim Jong-un, Bae Seo-chan, Shim Suk-hee, and Kim Min-ji also topped its heat in 2:41.741, edging out Poland ^[1]. Teamwork at its finest! 🔥

📅 Upcoming Schedule and What to Watch

This season's World Tour kicks off in Vancouver and continues through Montreal, Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing, Gdansk, and Tilburg, for seven stages in total ^[7]. Seoul hosts the 3rd stage at Mokdong Ice Rink from November 20 to 22 ^[8], and the season finale, the World Championships, runs from March 12 to 14 at the same venue ^[7]. For Choi, it will be her final national team competition in front of home fans 🇰🇷

Korea is also chasing the Crystal Globe, awarded to the season's overall champion. The men's side is aiming to reclaim it for the first time in three years, after Park Ji-won and Kim Gil-li shared the honor in the 2023-24 season ^[7].

⚠️ The Wild Card: Lim Jong-un's Disciplinary Case

However, Lim Jong-un has been placed in disciplinary proceedings over three whereabouts-reporting violations for anti-doping tests. He has hired a lawyer to present his case, and if a severe penalty is imposed, he plans to consider an appeal ^[8]. With their ace's situation on the line, we'll be watching closely 👀

Let's cheer together as Choi Min-jeong's medal chase begins today! See you with the next update ✨