Seoul: Speed skater Kim Min-sun is gearing up for her third Winter Olympics with aspirations to claim her first Olympic medal in February in Italy. Kim, who sports a necklace with the five Olympic rings, views the pendant as a symbol of the ambition and persistence needed to achieve her Olympic goals.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim expressed her determination at an open training session at Taeneung International Rink in Seoul, held shortly before the start of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The 2026 games mark her third Olympic appearance, following her debut at PyeongChang in 2018 and a subsequent appearance in Beijing in 2022.
During her Olympic debut in 2018, Kim, then a teenager, finished tied for 16th in the women's 500 meters. Her performance improved in Beijing, where she secured a seventh-place finish. Subsequently, in the 2022-2023 season, Kim dominated the 500m events, winning five consecutive World Cup gold medals and a silver.
To address fatigue issues experienced toward the end of the previous season, Kim adjusted her training regimen to peak during the Olympic races in February. This strategic change impacted her immediate World Cup results, but she began to show promise in the 2024-2025 season, securing a bronze in the season opener and returning to the podium with a silver in February and a bronze at the world championships in March.
Kim faced initial struggles in the 2025-2026 season, finishing 17th in her first two 500m races. However, she achieved her first medal of the season with a third-place finish in Norway on December 14. "It was not an easy decision to change the way I trained, and it took a lot of courage," Kim stated, emphasizing her commitment to compete at her highest potential during the Olympics.
Femke Kok of the Netherlands has emerged as a dominant force in the women's 500m, winning all six World Cup titles this season and setting a new world record of 36.09 seconds. Kim, motivated by Kok's achievements, aims to focus on her personal growth and training, as advised by her mentor, Lee Sang-hwa, a two-time Olympic champion.
Lee, who retired in 2019, has been a significant influence on Kim, who was poised to take over as South Korea's speed skating icon. Kim aspires to fulfill this legacy by securing her first Olympic medal. "Since the start of my career, I've always dreamed of standing on the Olympic podium," Kim said, underscoring her dedication to achieving this milestone.