Milan: When Kim Gil-li entered the lane as the South Korean anchor in the final of the women's 3,000-meter short track relay at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games, she was trailing Arianna Fontana of Italy, the most decorated short tracker in Olympic history. With two laps left in the 27-lap race at Milano Ice Skating Arena, Kim found her rhythm, overcoming the pressure and zipping past Fontana to secure South Korea's first gold medal in short track at this year's Olympics. She joined teammates Choi Min-jeong, Shim Suk-hee, and Noh Do-hee in an emotional celebration. Lee So-yeon, who skated in the semifinals, also received the medal.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim expressed her disbelief and relief after the race, stating, "It was like I was skating on all fours. I didn't want to fall, no matter what. And when I saw a bit of an opening, I charged through it. Honestly, this still feels like a dream." The victory was a crucial achievement for South Korea, which was in danger of leaving Italy without a short track gold medal for the first time since the sport joined the Winter Olympics in 1992.
South Korea had missed out on gold in the mixed team relay, the men's and women's 500m, the men's 1,000m and 1,500m, and the women's 1,000m events earlier in the Games. Choi Min-jeong admitted to the mental struggle but emphasized her faith in the team's preparation. The final was not without its challenges, as Choi narrowly avoided a fall caused by a collision between a Dutch and a Canadian skater. She managed to stay upright, preserving the team's position.
Choi's ability to remain composed inspired her teammates. Noh Do-hee highlighted the synergy within the team, stating, "I think we all did our part as well as we could, and we really stayed patient." Choi's final push to Kim set the stage for the victorious finish. Kim's crossing of the finish line prompted a wave of relief and joy among the team, with Lee So-yeon expressing gratitude for her teammates' efforts.
Shim Suk-hee, overwhelmed by emotion, reflected on the team's journey, stating, "Looking back on the process leading up to this moment, and even on some of the moments during the final, I was so proud of my teammates for sticking together and overcoming all the challenges." This victory marked Shim's third career Olympic gold in the 3,000m relay, a testament to the strength of her partnerships over the years.