Lin Xiaojun, who naturalized to China (Korean name Im Hyo-jun), bowed his head in the 1500m after the 1,000m. Criticism in China is growing amid consecutive poor performances.
Lin Xiaojun competed in heat 4 of the men's 1,500m preliminary (quarterfinal) at the 2026 Milan–Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics held at the Milan Ice Skating Arena on the 15th (Korea time).
He wore the taegeuk mark at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and was the gold medalist in this event. He aimed to reclaim the top spot after eight years and to win his first Olympic medal since naturalizing to China.
1,000m gold medalist Jens van 't Wout (Netherlands) and silver medalist Sun Long (China) also competed. Lin Xiaojun boldly took the lead from the start in the so-called "death group," leading the race through five laps.
His speed increased after the middle of the race and the competition intensified. With seven to eight laps remaining, Lin Xiaojun lost his balance while running the curved track and fell. He collided with the fence and could not continue the race, finishing last in the heat with no time recorded.
Once the poster athlete of Korean short track who wore an Olympic gold medal, Lin Xiaojun sought a comeback at this event but again tasted disappointment on the ice.
Chinese media Tencent and Sina Sports reported that reactions in China are polarized over Lin Xiaojun's failure to meet expectations at the Milan–Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics.
Sina Sports called it "the result of chronic injuries and unstable performance," and criticized, "He was a Pyeongchang champion and a naturalized star who drew great expectations, but he has repeatedly failed to show his ability in Milan. His repeated poor performances are eroding public trust."
Lin Xiaojun was not included on the entry list for the mixed-gender relay either.
First Olympics since naturalization. But contrary to expectations, a medal proved distant. Immediately after his elimination from the 1,000m, Lin Xiaojun asked for support on his personal social media, saying, "The competition is not over yet. I will focus on the race." But amid the cold stares of fans, his bid for a comeback is becoming more difficult.
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