Choi Minjeong Wins Fourth Individual Gold, Joins Ranks of Korea's Most Decorated Olympic Champions

With short track speed skating queen Choi Minjeong capturing her fourth individual gold medal, she has become one of South Korea’s most decorated Winter Olympians in terms of gold medals, tying Chun Lee-kyung (short track, 4 gold, 1 bronze). By earning her sixth Olympic medal overall, she has also joined Kim Soon-yong (archery, 4 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), Jin Jongoh (shooting, 4 gold, 2 silver), and Lee Seung-hoon (speed skating, 2 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze) as one of the most decorated South Korean Olympians of all time.

On the 19th (Korea time), at the Ice Skating Arena in Milan, Italy, Choi Minjeong teamed up with Shim Sukhee, Kim Gilli, and Noh Dohee in the women’s 3000m short track relay at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics and won the gold medal with a time of 4 minutes 4.014 seconds. This victory gave Choi her fourth Olympic gold medal and her sixth Olympic medal overall.

Choi Minjeong (right) is celebrating with Kim Gilli after securing the gold medal in the women's 3000m short track relay at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, held at the Ice Skating Arena in Milan, Italy, on the 19th (Korea time). Yonhap News

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Competing in her third Olympics as captain of the national team, Choi Minjeong used her veteran race management to lead South Korea back to the top of the women’s 3000m relay podium for the first time in eight years.

Choi took on the role of the first skater. South Korea had posted the fastest time in the semifinals and was assigned the inside lane in the final. Refusing to be pushed back in the physical battles, Choi surged into the lead right after the start.

Her brightest moment came with 16 laps to go. At that point, South Korea was in third place behind Canada and the Netherlands. As the Dutch skater, who was chasing the leading Canadians, fell, Choi, who was following behind, made contact with the Dutch skater but managed to stay on her feet. Her speed dropped and she was overtaken by Italy, which moved South Korea down to fourth, but by not falling and holding her ground with sheer strength, she laid the foundation for a late comeback.

The late comeback also began with Choi. With three and a half laps remaining, she received the baton from Shim Sukhee and immediately overtook Canada to move into second place. She then significantly closed the gap to first-place Italy before passing the baton to the anchor, Kim Gilli. With one and a half laps to go, Kim overtook Italy’s Arianna Fontana, sealing the gold medal.

At the Pyeongchang 2018 Games, Choi Minjeong won gold in the 1500m and the 3000m relay, becoming a double champion. She then successfully defended her 1500m title at the Beijing 2022 Games and added silver medals in the 1000m and the 3000m relay. After adding another gold in the 3000m relay at these Games, Choi will now attempt to win her third consecutive Olympic title in the 1500m on February 21, the final day of short track competition. If she wins the women’s 1500m, she will become the first athlete ever to achieve three straight Olympic titles in an individual short track event. She would also become the sole leader as South Korea’s most decorated Winter Olympian in terms of gold medals, and the most successful female short track skater in Olympic history. Choi’s four gold medals currently tie her for first place with Wang Meng of China and Chun Lee-kyung.

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