Milan: South Korea has failed to win an Olympic speed skating medal for the first time in 24 years, concluding the speed skating events at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics without a podium finish. On the final day of speed skating races, Chung Jae-won finished fifth in the men's mass start, while Park Ji-woo placed 14th in the women's mass start.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Chung completed his race at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan with a time of 8:04.60. Jorrit Bergsma of the Netherlands claimed the gold medal with a time of 7:55.50, and Viktor Hald Thorup of Denmark secured the silver in 8:00.52. Andrea Giovannini of Italy took the bronze, clocking in at 8:04.42.
Jordan Stolz of the United States, who had previously won two golds and a silver, finished in fourth place at 8:04.51. Chung, who previously won a team pursuit silver medal at PyeongChang 2018 and a mass start silver at Beijing, sought to become the youngest South Korean speed skater with at least three Olympic medals.
The mass start race, covering 16 laps, combines elements of traditional speed skating with tactical aspects of short track speed skating. All skaters compete together, allowing some physical contact. Chung began the race at the back among the 16 finalists, moving up to fifth place after four laps but dropping to 12th by the halfway point. During the final stretch, as Bergsma and Thorup pulled ahead, Chung advanced to seventh place through 15 laps, ultimately finishing 0.18 seconds behind Giovannini for the bronze.
In the women's mass start final, Park struggled to contend for a medal. The race saw tight competition, with skaters sprinting in the last two laps. Park briefly reached ninth place but concluded in 14th with a time of 8:36.31. Marijke Groenewoud led a Dutch sweep of mass start titles with a time of 8:34.70, followed by Ivanie Blondin of Canada and Mia Manganello of the United States.
With one day of competition remaining, South Korea holds a total of three gold, four silver, and three bronze medals in the overall standings.