Milan: Having put aside their differences in pursuit of an Olympic medal together, short track speed skaters Choi Min-jeong and Shim Suk-hee combined for gold in the women's 3,000-meter relay at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games on Wednesday. With Shim pushing Choi from behind for exchanges, South Korea held off Italy and Canada for its first short track gold medal at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Choi, 27, and Shim, 29, had their first Olympics together on home ice at PyeongChang 2018. However, their tight friendship was severely tested during that event. In late 2021, it was revealed that Shim had sent a series of expletive-laden text messages to a national team coach during PyeongChang, denigrating her teammates and hinting she would intentionally trip up Choi in a race.

The conflict between the two skaters escalated when they tangled up during the women's 1,000-meter final at PyeongChang 2018 as Choi attempted to pass Shim. Following these events, Shim faced a two-month suspension from the national team and, despite being cleared of race-fixing charges, faced Choi's public declaration of wanting no further contact.

Despite the rocky history, Shim returned to the national team, and the duo became teammates once again. Initially, Choi was reluctant to let Shim push her for exchanges in the 3,000m relay, a critical role for competitive success. Shim's prowess as the strongest skater with an excellent relay record was crucial, while Choi's all-around skill was vital for South Korea's success.

Ahead of the 2025-26 season, Choi decided to put aside personal grievances and allowed Shim to push her, a decision that quickly bore fruit. South Korea clinched the 3,000m relay title at the first International Skating Union World Tour event of the season in October.

In the relay semifinals, Shim's push was instrumental in helping Choi take the lead position with ten laps to go. Despite falling to second place later, Shim's efforts enabled Choi to regain the lead, securing their place in the final. During the final, Shim's push helped Choi move from third to second, paving the way for Kim Gil-li's dramatic pass that secured the gold medal for South Korea.

While their relationship remains professional, with minimal interaction during celebrations and the medal ceremony, both athletes have emphasized the importance of on-ice trust. Though no longer close friends, Choi and Shim managed to unite their strengths for this significant victory in northern Italy.