Choi Min-jeong leads South Korea's Olympic relay push for gold
South Korea's short track speed skating team is preparing for the mixed 2,000-meter relay at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Three-time Olympic champion Choi Min-jeong will lead the squad in a high-stakes event where lane positioning could decide the outcome. The relay, featuring two men and two women each skating 500 meters, takes place on Tuesday, with the semifinals playing a key role in securing an advantage for the final.
Choi Min-jeong, already a gold medallist in other events, will skate the opening leg for Korea. This position is crucial, as a strong start helps control the race and secure the preferred inside lane. She has experience in the role, having led Korea to victory in the mixed relay at the third stop of the 2025-26 World Tour.
The team's expected final lineup includes Choi, Kim Gil-li, Rim Jong-un, and Hwang Dae-heon. Kim Gil-li, who trains alongside Choi, reports feeling sharper as the competition nears. Choi herself has been focusing on start training, knowing that early speed could make the difference in tight races.
Beyond the relay, Choi will also compete in the women's 500 meters—the only Olympic event where she has yet to win gold. She considers this her third major attempt at the title, having fallen short in previous Games.
At the last Winter Olympics in 2024, only four nations medalled in the mixed relay: China, South Korea, Italy, and Hungary. With the semifinals on Tuesday, Korea will aim to repeat their past success and lock in a strong lane for the final.
The mixed relay offers Korea a chance to add another Olympic medal, with Choi Min-jeong's leadership and experience playing a central role. If the team advances, their performance in the semifinals will determine whether they race from the favoured inside lane. The event also marks Choi's latest bid for gold in the 500 meters, her one remaining Olympic target.
