Kim Gilli Reaches Women’s 1000m Short Track Final... Choi Minjeong Relegated to Final B

Kim Gilli has advanced to the women’s 1000m short track final at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Choi Minjeong finished fourth in the second semifinal group and failed to reach the final.

Kim Gilli finished fourth in the first semifinal group of the women’s 1000m short track at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, held on the 16th (Korean time) at the Ice Skating Arena in Milan, Italy, but advanced to the final by referee’s decision (advance).

Kim Gilli is catching her breath after finishing the short-track women's 1000m semifinal at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics at the ice skating arena in Milan, Italy, on the 16th (Korean time). Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Kim Gilli launched an early attack in the race and moved into the lead right after completing the first lap. With five laps remaining, she yielded the lead to Xandra Velzeboer of the Netherlands, and then fell after being impeded on the inside by third-place Hanne Desmet of Belgium. Xandra Velzeboer crossed the finish line first, with Gong Li of China in second place, and Kim Gilli, who finished the race belatedly, was officially recorded in fourth place. However, she had been in second place at the time of the fall, and Desmet’s impeding was acknowledged, so she was granted an advance to the final.

Choi Minjeong was assigned to lane 4 in the second group. She also tried to accelerate right after the first lap but could not move to the front, and perhaps because she had expended too much energy early on, she never found a chance to come from behind. Choi Minjeong ultimately crossed the finish line in fourth place and was relegated to Final B.