Korea's short-track "living legend" Choi Min-jeong (28, Seongnam City Hall) put a period on her final Olympic stage and left a fittingly legendary farewell.
Choi Min-jeong finished second across the line in the final of the women's 1,500 meters short track at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics at the Ice Skating Arena in Milan, Italy, on the 21st (KST), following junior Kim Gil-li (22, Seongnam City Hall).
Choi Min-jeong was pushed in a late sprint and took silver, but she embraced the tearful "new ace" Kim Gil-li and offered heartfelt congratulations, creating a warm scene.
Through this tournament, Choi Min-jeong set a massive milestone in Korea's Olympic history. After the 3,000-meter relay gold, the silver she added that day brought Choi Min-jeong's total Olympic medal count to seven (4 gold, 3 silver).
With this, Choi Min-jeong surpassed shooter Jin Jong-oh, archer Kim Soo-nyung and speed skater Lee Seung-hoon (each six) to become the sole Korean with the most medals across summer and winter Olympics. She also tied the record for most winter Olympic gold medals by a Korean athlete with Jeon Yi-kyung (4 gold, 1 bronze).
But Choi Min-jeong's Olympic history ends in Milan. According to Newsis and others, Choi Min-jeong declared in the mixed zone after the race, "This is my last Olympics."
Choi Min-jeong confessed through tears, "While preparing for the season, my knee and ankle were not in good condition, and my mind was exhausted. From the start I thought this would be my last Olympics," adding, "I don't think you'll see me at the Olympics anymore."
In interviews with SPOTV and others, Choi Min-jeong calmly expressed her retirement feelings, saying, "I never expected that I would be able to win medals for more than 10 years since I first joined the national team in the 2014-2015 season," and "This feels like enough. Thank you for everything."
Choi Min-jeong named her greatest moment not as the two-title sweep at PyeongChang in 2018 or the three medals (1 gold, 2 silver) at Beijing in 2022, but as "today," when she set her highest medal record.
Choi Min-jeong revealed the composure of a master by saying, "Even though it's a silver medal, I felt it was more valuable than a gold. Regardless of the result, I'm very satisfied with the preparation, the race itself and the outcome, so I have no regrets."
Even while shedding tears, Choi Min-jeong did not lose the dignity of an "ace," watching over those around her until the end. She also said, "I was really lucky to win seven medals. I could feel how many people helped me," and credited all the achievements to her teammates and staff.
It felt reminiscent of the late Lee Soon-jae's final words, "Viewers, I have been indebted to you and received a lot of help throughout my life. Thank you," as he ultimately showed tears in his farewell.
Above all, Choi Min-jeong said with special affection for Kim Gil-li, "In the locker room Gil-li told me she was happier because she was first. With Gil-li carrying on the 1,500m gold lineage, I can rest more easily now," and smiled, "Just as I grew my dream watching my seniors, I'm proud that Gil-li is realizing hers by watching me."
To fans, Choi Min-jeong left a modest but weighty request: "Rather than being remembered as a certain kind of athlete, I want to be remembered as one of the many players who helped keep Korea's short track strong. Please continue to show a lot of interest in short track."
Choi Min-jeong left the question of whether she will retire from competition to discussions with her team. But her final farewell to the Olympic stage will remain one of the most beautiful "last dances" in Korean sports history.
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