Milan: With a standout performance at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Thursday, short track speed skating star Choi Min-jeong tied multiple South Korean Olympic medal records. Choi led South Korea to the gold medal in the women's 3,000-meter relay at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan, joining Kim Gil-li, Shim Suk-hee, and Noh Do-hee to hold off Italy and Canada.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this was Choi's sixth career Olympic medal, tying her for the most medals by a South Korean athlete. She is on level with former shooter Jin Jong-oh, ex-archer Kim Soo-nyung, and speed skater Lee Seung-hoon. Choi also tied ex-short tracker Chun Lee-kyung for the most Winter Games gold medals by a South Korean athlete.
"Before this Olympics, I was really grateful for the opportunity to chase the record," Choi said. "It feels like a dream to be able to achieve that record with this medal. I am really happy."
This was Choi's fourth opportunity to get on the board in Milan. Earlier in the competition, South Korea crashed out early in the mixed team relay with Choi in action, while Choi couldn't get to the finals in the women's 500m and 1,000m.
Choi will have one more opportunity to win a medal in Milan on Friday in the 1,500m, where she is the two-time defending champion. She will try to become the first short track speed skater ever to win three consecutive gold medals in the same distance.
Choi, 27, began her Olympic career by winning the women's 1,500m and the 3,000m relay gold medals at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games. Then four years later in Beijing, Choi repeated as the 1,500m champion while adding silver medals in the 1,000m and the 3,000m relay.
Choi took a leave of absence for the 2023-2024 season for a mental and physical reset, so that she could be back in her peak form for the 2026 Winter Olympics. She channeled her clutch gene once again under pressure, delivering yet another medal for her country on Wednesday.
The list of Choi's international accomplishments is long and impressive. On top of her Olympic golds, Choi has won 24 medals at world championships, including 17 gold medals. She has been the overall world champion three times.