Kim Gil-li Wins Gold in Women's 1500m Short Track

South Korean skater Kim Gil-li claims second Olympic gold

Kim Gil-li wins gold in women's 1500m short track at 2026 Winter Olympics, beating Choi Min-jeong and Corinne Stoddard.

However, once again, I am really happy with these Olympics, managing to ‌reach five out...”

South Korean speed skater Kim Gil-li has won her second Olympic gold medal, beating compatriot Choi Min-jeong in the women's 1500m short track final at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. This thrilling win marks Kim's third Olympic medal, following her bronze in the 1000m and gold in the women's relay.

The event was the last of the short-track tournament, and Arianna Fontana of Italy was aiming for her 15th Olympic medal, but unfortunately, she finished fifth after a perfect final run by Kim. Choi Min-jeong, the defending champion, took silver, while American Corinne Stoddard claimed bronze.

Arianna Fontana, the 35-year-old Italian short track skater, took her time to thank the crowd in what might be her last Olympic race. Meanwhile, Kim Gil-li of South Korea secured her second gold medal at the Milan-Cortina Games by winning the women's 1,500m event, adding to her earlier gold in the 3,000m relay alongside Choi Min-jeong.

“Unfortunately, my left glute and back were really stiff, which limited me a bit,” Fontana told reporters. 

“However, once again, I am really happy with these Olympics, managing to ‌reach five out of five finals and bringing home three more medals,” she added, saying she felt proud and happy both for her results and the achievements of the rest of the female team.

“And at 35 years of age, after an injury that really put everything in doubt, I couldn't have asked for anything better, honestly.”

KIM GIL-LI DESTRONA A CHOI MIN-JEONG

👑 El 1500 femenino tiene nueva reina olímpica.#MilanoCortina2026 pic.twitter.com/fbd92Gu1P0

— Eurosport.es (@Eurosport_ES) February 20, 2026

Arianna Fontana, the Italian short track legend, is keeping her options open regarding retirement. She's focusing on enjoying the moment with loved ones, including family and friends from her hometown of Berbenno di Valtellina, who've been cheering her on at the arena.

Fontana's had an incredible run at the Milan-Cortina Games, winning gold in the mixed relay and silver in the women's relay and individual 500m. She's now Italy's most decorated Olympian with 14 medals, surpassing fencer Edoardo Mangiarotti's record.

Semifinals End in Surprise Upsets

Belgian skater Hanne Desmet's Olympics ended abruptly with a fall after contact with Noh Do-hee, dashing her gold medal hopes. Desmet wasn't the only one to fall short, as Canadian ace Kim Boutin and compatriot Danae Blais also failed to advance.

Shocking Turns in Semifinal 2

The second semifinal was packed with drama, featuring Suzanne Schulting, Xandra Velzeboer, Elisa Confortola, and Courtney Sarault. In a stunning turn of events, Confortola and Schulting collided, and Velzeboer and Sarault fell untouched, paving the way for Yang Jingru and Lam Ching Yan to snatch spots in the final A.

The Netherlands' short-track speed skating dominance took a hit when Suzanne Schulting and Xandra Velzeboer fell in the semifinal, marking the first time the country won't have a representative in a short-track final this tournament. This is surprising, given they've won four of the seven gold medals so far.

Choi Min-jeong, Corinne Stoddard, and Arianna Sighel made it to the final A with clean semifinal runs. 

Michelle Velzeboer Falls Short

Michelle Velzeboer, sister of two-time gold medallist Xandra Velzeboer, had a tough break in the quarterfinals, falling in the final lap while trying to pass Zhang Chutong, ending her Olympics on a disappointing note.

🔥🇮🇹 | Wat gebeurt hier allemaal in de halve finale. Eerst gaat Suzanne Schulting onderuit, dan Sarault en in winnende positie valt ook Xandra Velzeboer. Geen finale voor Nederland vandaag. ⛸️ #MilanoCortina2026

Winterspelen 👀 HBO Max pic.twitter.com/RHvjAAiFfO

— Eurosport Nederland (@Eurosport_NL) February 20, 2026 

Semifinal Bound

Kim Boutin and Olympic champion Kim Gil-li advanced to the semifinals, alongside Zhang Chutong. Meanwhile, Li Gong, a top-ranked short track skater, was disqualified for pushing Kamryn Lute on the inside, also knocking Yana Khan out of the competition.

Tineke den Dulk impressed in her quarterfinal, sprinting to success in the longer distance race, even catching the attention of Belgian King Filip. She'll be joined in the semis by Choi Min-jeong, Arianna Sighel, and Diana Laura Vegi, who was one of the fastest fourth-placed skaters.

Suzanne Schulting made a strong comeback after a two-year absence, starting from fifth place and battling her way to third, alongside Xandra Velzeboer and Elisa Confortola, who all secured semifinal spots.

Quarterfinal Drama Unfolds

The sixth quarterfinal was marked by a major incident involving Arianna Fontana, Kristen Santos-Griswold, and Kamila Sellier, resulting in a re-skate. Fontana suffered an injury, while Sellier needed urgent medical attention after being hit by Santos-Griswold's skate blade near her eye.

Kamila Sellier of Poland was involved in a nasty crash with Kristen Santos-Griswold of the USA

Re-Skate Ordered

The incident led to Santos-Griswold's disqualification, and a re-skate was ordered for the remaining skaters. 

Arianna Fontana showed remarkable resilience, bouncing back from her earlier incident to finish second in the re-skate, behind Hanne Desmet and ahead of Noh Do-hee.