Kim Gilli and Lim Jongun Win Gold Together at World Championships, Proving Themselves as Korea's Next-Generation Short Track Aces

Kim Gilli and Lim Jongun Win Gold in Women's 1000m and Men's 1500m

Kim Gilli Clinches Dramatic Victory Over Belzebur with Final Lunge

Lim Jongun Surges from Third to First on Final Lap

Kim Gilli and Lim Jongon, considered the future of Korean short track, each claimed gold medals in the women’s 1000m and men’s 1500m at the International Skating Union (ISU) World Championships. Despite being the youngest members of the national team, both athletes led the medal race alongside Choi Minjeong and Hwang Daeheon at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics last month. Following their Olympic success, they demonstrated their prowess once again at the World Championships, solidifying their status as the next generation of aces. Both Kim Gilli and Lim Jongon delivered thrilling come-from-behind victories, moving from third to first place in the final lap.

On March 15 (Korea time), at the ISU World Championships held at Maurice Richard Arena in Montreal, Canada, Kim Gilli won the gold medal in the women’s 1000m with a time of 1 minute 28.843 seconds. With a dramatic last-minute lunge, Kim Gilli narrowly edged out Jandra Velzebur of the Netherlands, who claimed gold in this event at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, by just 0.009 seconds.

Kim Gilli is cheering after winning a thrilling come-from-behind victory with a last-minute lunge in the women's 1000m final at the International Skating Union (ISU) World Championships held at Maurice Richard Arena in Montreal, Canada on the 15th (Korea time). Montreal = AP Yonhap News. She won the gold medal with a time of 1 minute 28.843 seconds. Kim Gilli narrowly defeated Jandra Velzebur from the Netherlands, who won the gold medal in this event at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, by 0.09 seconds with her last-minute lunge.

Kim Gilli waited for her opportunity from the back of the pack before making her decisive move at the end. While in fourth place with two laps to go, she dramatically increased her speed. However, the leading athletes, including Velzebur, were reluctant to give up their positions. With half a lap remaining, Kim Gilli was in third place behind Velzebur and Elisa Confortola of Italy. She attacked from the outside in the final corner, aiming for a comeback, and with a desperate lunge, managed to pass Velzebur for a dramatic victory.

Shim Sukhee, who also competed, was eliminated in the semifinals, while Lee Soyeon exited in the quarterfinals.

In the men’s 1500m final, Lim Jongon won gold with a time of 2 minutes 14.974 seconds, outpacing Thomas Nadalini of Italy (2 minutes 15.218 seconds) and Stijn Desmet of Belgium (2 minutes 15.237 seconds).

After emerging as a breakout star last year by winning four titles at the ISU Short Track Junior World Championships, Lim Jongon made a splash at his senior World Championships debut, capturing gold in the 1500m for a spectacular start to his senior career.

Lim Jongon also delivered a thrilling come-from-behind victory with a strong finish. With three laps to go, he was only in sixth place. When William Dandjinou of Canada, who was competing in the lead group, fell with two laps remaining, Lim Jongon moved up to third place. In the final lap, he squeezed between the two leading skaters to take the lead and crossed the finish line first.

On the 15th (Korea time), Jongon Lim (center), who won the gold medal in the men's 1000m at the International Skating Union (ISU) Short Track World Championships held at the Maurice Richard Arena in Montreal, Canada, is taking a commemorative photo with Thomas Nadalini of Italy (left) and Stijn Desmet of Belgium. Montreal = AP Yonhap News

Shin Dongmin, who competed alongside Lim Jongon, finished third in the first group of the semifinals and was relegated to the ranking round, where he placed sixth in Final B. Hwang Daeheon received a disqualification in the semifinals and did not advance to the final.

In the men’s 500m, both Hwang Daeheon and Lim Jongon competed but were eliminated in the semifinals and quarterfinals, respectively.

In the women’s 3000m relay, the absence of Choi Minjeong and Noh Dohee could not be filled, resulting in the team failing to advance to the final. The women’s team, consisting of Shim Sukhee, Kim Gilli, Lee Soyeon, and Noh Areum, finished third in their heat behind Canada and Italy and advanced to the ranking round, where Korea finished first.

In contrast to the women’s team, the men’s national team, with its full Milan-Cortina Olympic roster, advanced to the final by defeating China and securing first place in the second group of the semifinals.

The 2026 ISU World Championships will conclude its three-day schedule on March 16, crowning gold medalists in the mixed relay, women’s 1500m, men’s 1000m, women’s 500m, and men’s 5000m relay.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.