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With exactly one month remaining until the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, the South Korean women’s national short track team has declared its readiness to reclaim its status as the world’s dominant force. During the "D-30 Media Day" held at the Jincheon National Training Center on the 7th, the athletes expressed supreme confidence in their teamwork and physical condition.
The primary objective for this Games is clear: reclaiming the gold medal in the women's 3,000m relay. After winning consecutive golds in Sochi (2014) and Pyeongchang (2018), South Korea yielded the top spot to the Netherlands at the 2022 Beijing Games, settling for silver. To bridge this gap, the team has spent the season experimenting with relay orders and refining their exchanges to find the "optimal combination."
Team captain and ace Choi Min-jeong (Seongnam City Hall) emphasized collective success over individual glory. "The entire team views the relay as the top priority. We are putting immense effort into both the women’s and mixed relays," Choi stated. Seeking her third consecutive Olympic gold in the 1,500m, she added that the team is meticulously analyzing data from the ISU World Tour to perfect their strategy.
A notable highlight of this Olympic cycle is the professional reconciliation between veterans. Choi Min-jeong and Shim Suk-hee (Seoul City Hall), who previously faced public scrutiny regarding past emotional friction, have demonstrated seamless cooperation during the 2025–2026 ISU World Tour. Shim remarked, "The most iconic moment at the Olympics is when every skater becomes one team," underscoring their unified front for the relay.
The team also benefits from the vibrant energy of rising star Kim Gil-li (Seongnam City Hall). Known as the team’s "mood maker," Kim lightened the atmosphere during the media day, stating her desire to "shop with a joyful heart" after a successful performance. Meanwhile, first-time Olympian Noh Do-hee (Hwaseong City Hall) acknowledged the rising physical standards of international competitors and pledged to supplement any remaining weaknesses in speed and stamina before departure.
Reflecting on the "no-gold" performance at the test event held in Milan last February, the team noted that while exhaustion from the Harbin Winter Asian Games was a factor then, the experience provided invaluable familiarity with the ice conditions and arena environment in Italy.
As the final countdown begins, the blend of veteran leadership from Choi and Shim, alongside the bold spirit of newcomers like Kim, Lee So-yeon, and Noh, suggests a formidable lineup. The South Korean short track contingent will enter the final phase of intensified training in Jincheon before heading to Italy, carrying the weight of a nation’s expectations to return to the top of the podium.
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