South Korean speed skater Kim Min-sun, 26, finished 14th in the women's 500-meter event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, missing out on a medal once again. Fighting back tears just minutes after the race, she expressed deep disappointment but quickly turned her focus to the 2030 Games. Kim reflected on her past performances and drew motivation from competitors like gold medalist Femke Kok.
At the Milano Speed Skating Stadium during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Kim Min-sun clocked 38.01 seconds to finish 14th in the women's 500-meter race. This marked her second-slowest time of the season. A slow start over the first 100 meters, where she recorded 10.61 seconds and placed 21st out of 29 skaters, hindered her performance.
Kim had steadily improved in previous Games, placing 16th in her debut at PyeongChang 2018 and seventh in Beijing 2022. She entered Milan hoping for her first Olympic medal but left disappointed. "I don't even know where to start. I am really disappointed," she said, fighting back tears. "Preparing for the Olympics is difficult enough when you have 100 percent confidence in yourself. But there were times when I only made things tough on myself... I think I have to start working for the next Olympics right away."
The gold medal went to Femke Kok of the Netherlands, who set an Olympic record of 36.49 seconds. Kim noted that she had beaten Kok in the past, which gave her confidence. "Those skaters weren't that far ahead of me at the start of our careers, and this gives me confidence that I can get to where they are," she said. "On the other hand, I also wonder what someone like Kok has done differently... It pushes me to work even harder."
Reflecting on the four years since Beijing, Kim called them "like a gift." She expressed gratitude and resolve to train diligently for the next cycle. "The race is over, and I can't blame anyone but myself," she added, planning to spend time with loved ones before resuming preparations for the 2030 Games.
