Naturalized Chinese Short Track Skater Lin Xiaojun: "I Feel Proud When Hearing the Chinese National Anthem"

"Goal for 2026 Olympics is Team Event Gold Medal"

Lin Xiaojun (Korean name Im Hyojun), who was a leading South Korean short track speed skater and later naturalized to China, expressed his determination to win a gold medal representing China.

In an interview with China's Titan Zhoubao on the 10th, Lin Xiaojun said, "I already consider myself Chinese" and added, "I will win an Olympic gold medal for my new homeland."

When asked how he felt after naturalizing to China, he replied, "I was surprised by the huge number of short track fans in China," and said, "I was introverted at first, but now I have changed. Especially whenever I win a gold medal at international competitions and hear the Chinese national anthem, I feel proud."

He continued, "I was sad and uncomfortable that I did not perform well at the 2022 International Skating Union (ISU) World Cup in October, which was my first competition after naturalization," but added, "I believed that one day I would win a gold medal again. My physical condition is improving every year, so I will continue to achieve good results," showing his determination.

Short Track Chinese National Team Member Lin Xiaojun (Korean name Im Hyojun) [Image source=Yonhap News]

Currently, Lin Xiaojun is preparing for the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics. He said, "My primary goal is to win a gold medal in the relay event," and added, "I really want to achieve a happy result together with my teammates." He also emphasized, "At the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, where I competed as a South Korean athlete, I won gold in the men's 1500m but never won a medal in the team event. I have a painful memory of missing a medal after falling during the men's 5000m relay, but at the 2026 Olympics, we will work together to achieve good results."

Lin Xiaojun, who was a member of the South Korean national short track team, was involved in a controversy in 2019 during a team physical training session when he pulled down the pants of junior athlete Hwang Daeheon. As a result, he was suspended from competition for one year by the Korea Skating Union and was prosecuted on charges of sexual harassment. After the Skating Union revoked his national team status in November 2019 and he was fined 3 million won in the first trial in May 2020, Lin Xiaojun chose to naturalize to China. However, in the appeal trial in November of the same year, he was acquitted, thus being cleared of legal responsibility and disciplinary action.