(C) SBS

South Korea's short track sensation, Kim Gil-li (Seongnam City Hall), delivered a stellar performance at the 2025–2026 International Skating Union (ISU) Short Track World Tour 3 in Gdansk, Poland, claiming two gold medals to spearhead the nation’s successful campaign. The Korean men's relay team also secured a crucial gold, underscoring the team's growing strength this season.

Kim Gil-li secured her first gold in the fiercely contested Women’s 1500m final, crossing the finish line first with a time of 2:30.610. Teammate Choi Min-jeong followed closely, taking the silver medal with a time of 2:30.656, marking a powerful one-two punch for South Korea in the distance event.

Mixed Relay Victory and Choi Min-jeong's Haul 

The pair then combined their efforts with Im Jong-eon (Nowon High School) and Lee Jung-min (Seongnam City Hall) in the Mixed Team Relay final. The Korean quartet delivered a commanding performance, clocking 2:40.155 to narrowly edge out the Netherlands (2:40.224) for the gold medal. This victory cemented Kim Gil-li’s status as a double gold medalist for the competition.

While Kim Gil-li celebrated her dual victories, Choi Min-jeong showcased her versatility by collecting a full set of medals across the tournament. In addition to her mixed relay gold and 1500m silver, the veteran skater also secured a bronze in the Women’s 500m final. She posted a time of 43.772, finishing behind the gold medalist Sandra Velzeboer of the Netherlands (43.295) and Corinne Stoddard of the United States (43.406). Choi's three-medal tally—gold, silver, and bronze—highlights her consistent competitiveness across different distances.

Reflecting on her achievements, Choi Min-jeong, through her agency All That Sports, stated, "Winning the gold medal together in the mixed relay was a joyful experience. Earning a medal in the 500m after a long time confirmed my potential, making this a truly valuable competition."

Men’s Relay Team Adds Gold to the Tally 

The success continued for the Korean squad as the men's team triumphed in the 5000m Relay. The team, comprising Im Jong-eon, Lee Jun-seo, Lee Jung-min (all Seongnam City Hall), and Shin Dong-min (Korea University), worked in perfect synchronization to lead the pack, securing the gold with a time of 7:07.098.

They finished comfortably ahead of the silver medalists from China (7:14.517) and the bronze medalists from Italy (7:16.683). The men's relay victory reaffirms South Korea's long-standing dominance and depth in the team events on the global short track stage.

The successful outing at the 3rd World Tour event, particularly the multi-medal performance by stars like Kim Gil-li and Choi Min-jeong and the strength shown in the team relays, sets a promising tone for South Korea as the season progresses toward the major championship events.

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