Choi won silver in the women’s 1,500 meters short track final at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics on Friday (Korea time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena, finishing second behind Kim Gil-li.
The medal was Choi’s seventh individual Olympic medal (four gold, three silver). It set a new record for most Olympic medals by a South Korean athlete, surpassing Jin Jong-oh (shooting), Kim Soo-nyung (archery) and Lee Seung-hoon (speedskating), who each had six.
Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone, Choi said she felt relief after a race with no regrets, but became emotional because it felt like the end. “I feel so relieved, but I’m crying because a lot of emotions are crossing,” she said. “I think I’m crying because it feels like my last Olympics.”
Choi said the 1,500 was her Olympic “last dance.” “This is my last Olympics,” she said. “While preparing this season, my knee and ankle weren’t good, and mentally it was really tough.” She added that the thought stayed with her throughout the race and afterward: “I don’t think you’ll see me at the Olympics anymore.”
She said she has not decided whether to retire from competition altogether. “Retiring from my career isn’t something I can decide alone,” Choi said, adding that it would require coordination with her team. “I’ve only been thinking about the Olympics. It’s something I need to think about while resting for a while.”
Asked why she chose to make this her final Olympics, Choi said the decision came naturally as injuries piled up and it became difficult to regain her best condition. She said she set many records on the Olympic stage and felt she had done everything she could.
Looking back on her three Olympics, Choi said the best moment was “right now,” saying she wanted to focus on the good and finish on a positive note. She called Friday’s 1,500 silver her most meaningful medal among the seven.
Choi said she hopes fans remember her as an athlete who kept showing how strong South Korean skaters are. She added that with Kim poised to follow in her footsteps, she feels more at ease about taking a break.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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