Milan: Speed skater Chung Jae-won was originally set to compete solely in the men's mass start, his primary event, at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics this month. However, when a spot became available in the 1,500m event scheduled for Thursday, Chung was designated as the first alternate. Initially hesitant, fearing it might interfere with his mass start preparations, Chung ultimately decided to participate and finished 14th out of 30 skaters with a time of 1:45.80.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Chung, who won the silver medal in the mass start at the 2022 Olympics, expressed his concerns about the potential impact on his training schedule but chose to view the race as an opportunity to acclimate and assess his speed. "I was worried that a race would mess up my training schedule for the mass start," he shared with reporters at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan. "But I decided a competitive race would help me feel a bit more relaxed and get a better feel for my speed here."

Chung noted that his last 1,500m race occurred approximately two years ago. "I've only been skating on the inner lane while working on the mass start, and so it felt awkward skating on the outer lane," he explained. "My time wasn't all that bad today. I felt a little wound up because it was my first race here, but I think it was good to get some nerves out of my system."

With his mass start preparation nearly complete, Chung feels confident in his abilities, particularly his cornering skills, which he believes give him an advantage over competitors. "I believe I have an edge over other skaters in my cornering skills," he said. "I'll try to take advantage of my strengths and respond to whatever situations that arise."

Jordan Stolz from the United States, who has already secured gold medals in the 500m and 1,000m and a silver in the 1,500m, is seeking his fourth medal in the mass start. Chung acknowledged Stolz's formidable speed but remains optimistic about his chances. "I am predicting Stolz will have that explosive burst of speed with a couple of laps to go and leave everyone in the dust," Chung stated. "But if I can stay with him and others, I will definitely have my chance. I need to stay locked in."

Reflecting on his past accomplishments, Chung is hopeful for another podium finish. "I won the mass start silver medal four years ago and I won a medal during this World Cup season. Of course, my goal is to reach the podium here," he added. "I would love to go to the highest spot."