Kim Gil-li's 'Lamborghini' sprint wins by 0.009 seconds... World Championship 1000m gold medal
She's done it again. Kim Gil-li (Seongnam City Hall), who has well and truly stepped out of the 'Post-Choi Min-jeong' shadow to become the undisputed new face of Korean short track, has added a World Championship gold to her collection, showcasing her phenomenal physicality and ice-cool nerves. Just last month, she was crowned double gold medallist at the Milan Winter Olympics and named Korea's MVP. This time, she made the Montreal ice her own personal stage.
The 'Outside Lane Rebellion'... Writing a 0.009-second Miracle
Local time on the 15th, the final of the women's 1000m at the 2026 ISU Short Track World Championships at the Maurice Richard Arena in Montreal. Kim Gil-li was handed the toughest draw from the start: the widest lane, number five. A disadvantageous position from the get-go, but for the skater nicknamed 'Lamborghini', it was the green light for her explosive overtaking instinct.
The early race was a test of patience. Biding her time at the back, Kim Gil-li hit the afterburners with just two laps remaining. As Sandra Petrusjaar (Netherlands) and Elisa Confortola (Italy) battled for the lead, Kim Gil-li hugged the outer edge of the track, took the long route, and surged into third place in a flash.
The race was decided on the final corner. Hot on the heels of leader Petrusjaar, Kim Gil-li displayed incredible flexibility and flexibility as she came out of the turn, lunging with her left skate to get her blade across the line first. The official time: 1:28.843. The margin over Petrusjaar (1:28.852) was a mere 0.009 seconds. A nail-biting, photo-finish victory for the ages.
"I really click with Montreal"... Conquering the World Champs after Olympic Glory
This gold medal means more than just another win. Earlier, Kim Gil-li had struck gold in the women's 1500m and 3000m relay at the Milan Olympics, but had to settle for a disappointing bronze in the 1000m, edged out by her rival Petrusjaar. At the World Championships just a month later, she has not only settled the score but cemented her status as the undisputed queen of the women's 1000m distance.
After the race, a smiling Kim Gil-li said, "I seem to have a special connection with the city of Montreal. The ice quality and the atmosphere here really suit me, allowing me to race with more confidence and aggression." She added with characteristic wit, "My nickname is 'Lamborghini', and I always want to live up to it by delivering fast and powerful races. I think the nickname actually makes me faster," drawing laughter from the press.
Kim Gil-li wasn't Korea's only 'one-two punch' at these championships. In the men's division, Lim Jong-un (Goyang City Hall), affectionately known as 'Ferrari', powered his way to gold in the men's 1500m final with a time of 2:14.974, showcasing the depth of Korean short track on the world stage. This victory is particularly significant as it marks a stunning end to the season for Lim, who had a disappointing quarter-final fall at the Olympics.
Here's a wrap-up of the key results from the meet so far:
- Kim Gil-li: Gold medal in women's 1000m (adding World Championship gold to her double Olympic title from Milan)
- Lim Jong-un: Gold medal in men's 1500m (a spectacular gold medal finish to his debut senior season)
- Men's Relay: Qualified for 5000m relay final
- Mixed Relay: Qualified for 2000m relay final (Lim Jong-un, Kim Gil-li, Hwang Dae-heon, Lee So-yeon)
With Kim Gil-li and Lim Jong-un carrying the Olympic flame of excitement straight into the World Championships, the future of Korean short track has never looked brighter. Kim Gil-li will be back on the ice on the 16th for the women's 1500m heats, aiming for her second gold of the championships. All eyes will be on Montreal to see if the 'Lamborghini' can unleash another blazing-fast performance.