The Korean short track mixed relay team failed to secure a medal, leading to expressions of disbelief among netizens.
On October 10, during the semifinals of the mixed relay at the Ice Skating Arena in Milan, Italy, the team finished in third place, resulting in a final ranking of sixth after being pushed to Final B.
The team faced misfortune when Kim Gilli collided with American skater Corinne Stoddard, who slipped while leading the race. Typically, in such situations, an advance rule may apply, allowing athletes who are unable to perform due to unavoidable circumstances to progress to the next round.
However, the Korean team was in third place at the time of the collision and thus did not qualify for an advance. A team official explained, "According to ISU regulations, to receive an advance, a team must be in the top two positions at the time of the collision. Since we were in third place, the rules were clear, and we had to accept the International Skating Union's (ISU) decision."
Additionally, coach Kim Min-jung drew attention by running to the officials with $100 to protest. ISU regulations state that typically, a fee of 100 Swiss francs or an equivalent foreign currency must be submitted along with a written protest to prevent frivolous complaints that could disrupt the competition. If the protest is accepted, the money is refunded; if not, the ISU keeps it. However, the Korean team could not submit the $100 because the officials did not accept their request for an advance.
Coach Kim stated, "I believed Kim Gilli was at the same level as the second-place skater when she fell, so I thought there were grounds for an advance appeal." He added, "The officials determined we were in third place, and we had to acknowledge that, as further protests could lead to penalties."
Netizens criticized the team's strategy, noting that the Korean short track team has historically relied on late surges for success. This strategy minimizes wind resistance and conserves energy for easier overtaking, leading to numerous medals on the international stage. However, they expressed disappointment that such an unavoidable situation left them without recourse. Furthermore, they criticized the requirement to pay for protests, with comments such as, "Isn't this outright extortion by the ISU?" and "Why should we have to pay when we feel wronged?"
* This article has been translated by AI.
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