Montreal, Canada - South Korea’s short track queen, Choi Min-jeong (Seongnam City Hall), has signaled her superb form by flawlessly navigating the first day of the 2025-2026 International Skating Union (ISU) Short Track World Tour's opening event in Montreal, Canada. Choi secured top spots in both the Women's 500m second heats and the 1500m quarterfinals, asserting her dominance as the season begins.
The World Tour, which serves as a crucial stage for Olympic qualification ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games, kicked off its first leg at the Maurice-Richard Arena in Quebec on October 11 (Korea time).
Choi's Power Play
Choi Min-jeong demonstrated her all-around capability, first winning her heat in the Women's 500m with a time of 43.540 seconds, outpacing Italy’s Martina Valcepina (43.837) to confidently advance to the quarterfinals.
She then carried her momentum into her primary event, the Women's 1500m quarterfinals. In a strong showing, Choi clocked in at 2:26.397, securing first place and successfully pushing past a formidable rival, Canada’s Kim Boutin (2:26.611), who was skating on home ice. Choi is now set to challenge for medals in the Women's 1000m on the 12th, and the 500m and 1500m finals on the 13th.
Team Korea Shines in Multiple Events
Choi's compatriot and one half of the women's team's 'two-headed monster,' Kim Gilli (Seongnam City Hall), also advanced, albeit through different routes. In the Women's 500m second heats, Kim finished third in her heat (42.710), but her time was strong enough to qualify for the quarterfinals. In the Women's 1500m quarterfinals, Kim delivered a solid performance, winning her heat with 2:34.510 to secure a spot in the semifinals. Noh Do-hee (Hwaseong City Hall) also joined the 1500m semifinalists, finishing second in her heat with 2:29.065.
However, Lee So-yeon (Sportstoto) was eliminated in the 500m second heats and her bid for advancement in the repechage was thwarted by a penalty.
The men's team also displayed excellent condition, particularly in the longer distances. In the Men's 1000m, Lim Jong-eon (Nowon High School), Hwang Dae-heon (Gangwon Provincial Office), and Shin Dong-min (Korea University) all won their first heats. Lim and Shin continued their winning streak by also topping their second heats, while Hwang advanced to the quarterfinals by finishing second in his.
The Korean men's relay team achieved a significant victory in the Men's 5000m Relay quarterfinals. The quartet of Shin Dong-min, Lee Jung-min (Seongnam City Hall), Lee Jun-seo (Seongnam City Hall), and Hong Kyung-hwan (Goyang City Hall) combined for a time of 6:52.871, winning their heat ahead of the Netherlands (6:53.050) and securing a semifinal berth.
Thrilling Mixed Relay Finale
South Korea also clinched a spot in the final of the Mixed 2000m Relay. The team, featuring Lim Jong-eon, Lee Jung-min, Choi Min-jeong, and Kim Gilli, won their semifinal heat with 2:37.535, overcoming hosts and strong rivals Canada (2:37.828).
The highlight was the final leg by Lim Jong-eon, who is competing in his first senior international event after a surprise victory at the national team trials in April. In a display of impressive nerve, Lim overtook last season's overall champion, William Dandjinou of Canada, with just two laps remaining to cross the finish line first, setting the stage for an exciting final.
The strong start by the Korean Short Track Speed Skating National Team promises a fierce battle for individual and team glory throughout the first event of the 2025-2026 World Tour.
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