Long one of the country’s most successful Winter Olympic sports after short track, speedskating has yet to win a medal at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Games, raising the possibility of finishing empty-handed.
South Korea’s Olympic speedskating medal history began at the 1992 Albertville Games, when Kim Yoon-man won silver in the men’s 500 meters. Over the next six Olympics, the team added five gold, 10 silver and five bronze medals.
As of the 20th, short track remains South Korea’s top Winter Olympic medal sport (27 gold, 17 silver, 13 bronze), with speedskating traditionally next.
At the 2010 Vancouver Games, speedskating won three gold and two silver medals, earning more gold than short track at the same Olympics.
But with three days left before the closing ceremony, South Korea still has no speedskating medals in Milan.
In the women’s 500 meters, Lee Na-hyeon of Korea National Sport University placed 10th and Kim Min-sun of Uijeongbu City Hall finished 14th. In the men’s 500, prospect Kim Jun-ho of Gangwon Provincial Office placed 12th.
Among the remaining events, the most realistic medal hope is Jeong Jae-won of Gangwon Provincial Office in the men’s mass start. He is scheduled to race at 11 p.m. on the 21st at the Milan speedskating stadium.
Jeong is a leading national team skater who won silver in team pursuit at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and silver in the mass start at the 2022 Beijing Games. In his third Olympics, he is trying to win a medal for a third straight Games.
Jeong has shown steady form this season, winning two silver medals in mass start across ISU World Cup stops 1 through 4 in 2025-2026.
Cho Seung-min, who is set to enter Korea National Sport University, will also compete in the men’s mass start, along with Park Ji-woo of Gangwon Provincial Office and Lim Ri-won, also set to enter Korea National Sport University, in the women’s mass start. Their medal chances are viewed as relatively lower.
If South Korea fails to add a medal, it would mark the team’s first Olympic speedskating medal drought since the 2002 Salt Lake City Games — a span of 24 years.
South Korean speedskating won medals at five straight Olympics from the 2006 Turin Games through the 2022 Beijing Games. This year’s results are expected to determine whether that run continues.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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