South Korea short track veteran Choi Min-jung (Seongnam City Hall) is aiming for her first medal of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics — and a national record for most Olympic medals by a South Korean athlete.
Choi will take the opening leg in the mixed 2,000-meter relay on Feb. 10 (Korea time).
“Other teams probably already expect me to start,” Choi said after training on Feb. 9. “I focused on start practice. I’ll try to break out as fast as possible and not get pushed around in the jostling.”
Choi has already won three gold medals and two silver medals across two Olympics. If she adds two more medals in Milan, she will set a new South Korean record for most Olympic medals.
“I have a letter my mother wrote for me,” Choi said. “I hope it’s an Olympics where I — and everyone around me — can finish smiling.”
A key variable is adapting to local conditions. Short track in Milan is being held on the same rink used for figure skating. With the two sports alternating, ice conditions can change, and the schedule is irregular, with races shifting between morning and night sessions.
“Some days we race in the morning, other days at night, so I think managing my condition physically will be important,” Choi said, pointing to strict self-care as a deciding factor.
The South Korean team arrived in Milan early on Jan. 30 and has completed its acclimation, with the team in good spirits. A U.S. sports outlet projected South Korea short track would win three gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze medal at these Games.
“I’ve done everything I can, and now I’ll leave the results up to the heavens,” Choi said. The mixed relay race is scheduled for the night of Feb. 10.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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