Milan: South Korean teen short track speed skater Rim Jong-un is generating buzz as a youngster to watch ahead of his Winter Games debut in northern Italy this month. The 18-year-old was selected as one of 10 "rising stars to watch" at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics by the event's website Tuesday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Rim earned his spot on the famously competitive national short track team by winning the trials last year, surpassing more accomplished veterans, including 2022 Olympic 1,500-meter champion Hwang Dae-heon. Rim secured his third world junior title last year and made an early impression on the senior circuit later in 2025, clinching the opening 1,500m race in the 2025-26 International Skating Union Short Track World Tour season in Montreal.

Throughout the World Tour campaign, Rim added a gold and a silver in the 1,000m and contributed to South Korea's triumph in two gold medals in the 5,000m relay. As the youngest member of the national short track team, Rim aims to enhance South Korea's impressive record of 26 gold medals and 53 total medals at the Winter Olympics.

Rim expressed his surprise and delight upon hearing the news of his inclusion in the top-10 list of rising stars, stating, "It's pretty cool that I made the top-10 list. It's an honor and I am grateful for that." Joining Rim on the list are U.S. halfpipe snowboarder Alessandro Barbieri, Canadian skeleton slider Hallie Clarke, Australian freestyle skier Indra Brown, and Slovenian ski jumper Nika Prevc.

As a first-time Olympian, Rim has been experiencing the athletes' village with awe and excitement. Despite being at his first Olympics, he maintains a mindset of having nothing to lose and looks forward to his first Olympic race in the heats for the men's 1,000m next Tuesday, along with a potential medal race in the mixed 2,000m relay later that same day.

Rim acknowledged the improved form and chemistry among athletes, expressing optimism about the mixed relay event. A significant adjustment for Rim will be adapting to the Olympic schedule, which spans 11 days compared to a single weekend for World Tour events. Nonetheless, Rim plans to gradually ramp up his form to peak during the mixed relay.

Despite the schedule change, Rim remains committed to his pre-race routine, which includes eating chocolate, a treat he has received in abundance from fans.