Short track: Kim Gil-li, Lim Jong-eon win first career world championship doubles

By Kang Sang Heon Posted : March 16, 2026, 17:12 Updated : March 16, 2026, 17:12
Kim Gil-li (center) won gold in the women’s 1,500 meters at the 2026 ISU Short Track World Championships in Montreal, clocking 2:31.003 to beat Sandra Velzeboer of the Netherlands (2:31.298) and Corinne Stoddard of the United States (2:31.386). [Photo=Yonhap·Reuters]
 
Kim Gil-li (Seongnam City Hall) and Lim Jong-eon (Goyang City Hall) each captured their first career two-gold haul at the 2026 International Skating Union (ISU) Short Track World Championships.

Kim won the women’s 1,500 meters final on March 16 (Korean time) at Maurice Richard Arena in Montreal, finishing in 2:31.003. She beat Sandra Velzeboer of the Netherlands (2:31.298) and Corinne Stoddard of the United States (2:31.386).

After taking gold in the 1,000 meters a day earlier, Kim completed a double. The reigning champion in the 1,500, she also repeated in the event for her first world championships two-title performance.
 
Lim Jong-eon (center) won gold in the men’s 1,000 meters at the 2026 ISU Short Track World Championships, posting 1:25.805 to beat Jens van ’t Wout of the Netherlands (1:26.315) and Niall Treacy of Britain (1:26.660). [Photo=Yonhap·Reuters]
 
Lim led the men’s side, winning the 1,000 meters final in 1:25.805 ahead of Jens van ’t Wout of the Netherlands (1:26.315) and Niall Treacy of Britain (1:26.660).

Lim, who also won the 1,500 meters final a day earlier, added the 1,000 to secure his first world championships double.

Both skaters also raced in relays but missed the podium. In the mixed relay final, Kim, skating second, collided and fell after contact stemming from a foul by a Dutch skater, and South Korea finished fourth.

In the men’s 5,000 relay final, Lim teamed with Lee Jeong-min (Seongnam City Hall), Hwang Dae-heon (Gangwon Provincial Office) and Shin Dong-min (Hwaseong City Hall). South Korea crossed the line first but was disqualified and did not medal.

After video review, officials ruled that Lee moved sharply from the outside to the inside before the finish and impeded a Canadian skater, and assessed a penalty to South Korea.



* This article has been translated by AI.

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