Milan: Teen short track speed skater Rim Jong-un is preparing to face his idol, Lim Hyo-jun, in the men's 1,000m quarterfinal at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Lim, who inspired Rim's Olympic aspirations with his 2018 gold medal victory, will be competing under the name Lin Xiaojun after switching allegiance to China in 2021.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lin, formerly Lim, faced and overcame sexual harassment charges before changing his national representation. Despite Rim's admiration for Lin, he is focused on the upcoming race, which includes other formidable competitors like Jens van 't Wout of the Netherlands and Luca Spechenhauser of Italy.
Rim, after a training session at Milano Ice Skating Arena, expressed his determination to consider all competitors rather than focusing solely on Lin. He shared that Lin had offered words of encouragement during their encounters in the athletes' village cafeteria, advising Rim to remain calm.
In preparation for his Olympic debut, Rim initially felt that the competition was akin to other international events due to familiar opponents. However, he acknowledged that the Olympic atmosphere was distinct and contributed to his nervousness.
Rim experimented with new strategies during the 1,000m heats by taking an early lead, rather than his usual tactic of securing the lead later in the race. "I wanted to try out a new approach," Rim noted, feeling optimistic about refining his strategy for future races.