'Fallen Lin Xiaojun' Wins First Gold for Korea in Mixed Relay Short Track at Winter Asian Games (Update)

The South Korean short track speed skating team, proud to be the world's best, won the first gold medal for their delegation at the 2025 Harbin Winter Asian Games.

The short track team, consisting of Park Ji-won, Choi Min-jung, Kim Tae-sung, and Kim Gil-ri, claimed the first gold medal on the 8th in the mixed relay 2000m event at the 2025 Harbin Winter Asian Games held at the Heilongjiang Ice Training Center Multipurpose Hall in Harbin, China, defeating China.

Short track speed skating national team members Park Ji-won, Choi Min-jung, Kim Tae-seong, and Kim Gil-ri are celebrating while holding the Taegukgi after winning the gold medal in the mixed 2000m relay final at the 2025 Harbin Winter Asian Games, held on the 8th at the Heilongjiang Ice Training Center Multipurpose Hall in Harbin, China.
Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The final was a showdown between South Korea, China, Japan, and Kazakhstan. South Korea was in second place until China's last skater Lin Xiaojun fell alone, allowing South Korea to easily secure the gold medal.

The relay order was Choi Min-jung, Kim Gil-ri, Kim Tae-sung, and Park Ji-won.

Choi Min-jung started as the first skater, overtaking China's Pan Kexin to take the lead. The lead was maintained through Kim Gil-ri, Kim Tae-sung, and Park Ji-won. However, Choi Min-jung lost the lead to Pan Kexin during the second lap.

Kim Gil-ri and Kim Tae-sung also failed to regain the lead, and Park Ji-won started the final leg in second place with two laps remaining. China's last skater was Lin Xiaojun (Im Hyo-jun), a peer who had previously competed for the South Korean team but naturalized to China.

A fierce competition was expected, but the match was decided easily when Lin Xiaojun fell alone while turning the first lap corner.

Park Ji-won crossed the finish line comfortably, celebrating the victory with a right-hand gesture.

There are nine gold medals at stake in short track at this tournament, with five gold medalists to be determined on the 8th. Following the mixed relay 2000m, the men's and women's 1500m and 500m final races will continue.