Hwang finished second in 2:12.304 in the final at the Milan Ice Skating Arena on Saturday in Milan, Italy, in Korean time, in a nine-man race.
After winning gold at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Hwang added silver in Milan. He has now medaled at three straight Olympics: silver in the men’s 500 meters at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, gold in the men’s 1,500 and silver in the men’s 5,000 relay at Beijing, and silver in the 1,500 in Milan.
It was South Korea’s fifth medal of these Games. Kim Sang-gyeom won silver in men’s parallel giant slalom snowboarding on Feb. 8, Yoo Seung-eun took bronze in women’s big air snowboarding on Feb. 10, Choi Ga-on won gold in women’s halfpipe snowboarding on Feb. 13, and Lim Jong-eon earned bronze in the men’s 1,000 meters in short track.
In the final, Hwang stayed near the back early as the nine skaters battled for position, then joined the fight at the front from the 11th lap. With five laps left, three skaters fell, and Hwang moved up to second. He tried to challenge on the last lap but crossed the line second.
“There were a lot of hardships and trials to get here. Personally, it was very difficult,” Hwang said in a broadcaster interview. “I’m so happy to be back here. I’m very grateful to those who trusted me and supported me strongly. I also want to tell my family thank you.”
“I’m thankful and it’s meaningful to take home this valuable silver,” he said. “This medal carries a lot of my story. I want to tell myself here that I’m truly grateful.”
Jens Vantwout of the Netherlands won gold in 2:12.219 to become a double champion at these Games. Latvia’s Roberts Krūzbergs took bronze in 2:12.376.
Shin Dong-min of Hwaseong City Hall, competing in his first Olympics, finished fourth.
Lim Jong-eon, considered a top contender and the men’s team ace, failed to reach the semifinals after falling during his quarterfinal race in heat 5.
Lin Xiaojun, who competed for South Korea before switching nationality to China in 2020, also missed the semifinals in his main event, the 1,500, after placing fourth in the mixed 2,000 relay and being eliminated in the 1,000 quarterfinals.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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