0.009 seconds apart, 'Lightning Gilly' strikes gold in World Championships 1000m

She's done it again. Kim Gil-li (Seongnam City Hall), who has firmly stepped out of the 'post-Choi Min-jeong' shadow to become the undeniable face of Korean short track, added another gold medal to her collection at the World Championships. Showcasing her overwhelming physique and nerves of steel on the ice, she conquered the world stage. Just last month, she was crowned double gold medallist at the Milan Winter Olympics, earning the title of MVP of the Korean contingent. This time, she turned the ice rink in Montreal, Canada, into her personal showcase.

The 'Outer Lane Rebellion'... A 0.009-Second Miracle

On the 15th (local time), at the Maurice Richard Arena in Montreal, the women's 1000m final of the 2026 ISU Short Track World Championships got underway. Kim Gil-li was assigned the outermost lane, number 5. A disadvantageous starting position, but for the athlete nicknamed "Lightning Gilly," it only ignited her explosive overtaking instinct.

The initial race was a test of patience. Holding back and biding her time at the back, Kim made her decisive move with just two laps remaining. As Sandra Belsebor (Netherlands) and Elisa Confortola (Italy) battled for the lead, Kim swung wide to the edge of the ice, chose a longer route, and surged into third place in an instant.

The race was decided on the final corner. Hot on the heels of leader Belsebor, Kim displayed incredible flexibility as she exited the bend, lunging with her left skate to touch the finish line first. The official time was 1 minute 28.843 seconds. The gap to runner-up Belsebor (1:28.852) was a mere 0.009 seconds. It was a dramatic, last-gasp victory decided by the slimmest of margins.

"I Really Click with Montreal"... Adding World Title to Olympic Gold

This gold medal carries weight beyond just another win. Earlier, Kim had clinched gold in the women's 1500m and the 3000m relay at the Milan Winter Olympics last month, but had to settle for a disappointing bronze in the 1000m, edged out by her rival Belsebor. With this victory at the World Championships just a month later, she has perfectly avenged that loss in the same discipline, solidifying her status as the undisputed queen of the women's 1000m.

After the race, a smiling Kim shared, "I seem to have a special connection with the city of Montreal. The ice quality and the atmosphere really suit me, allowing me to race with more confidence and aggression." With a touch of wit, she added, "My nickname is 'Lightning Gilly', and I always want to live up to it by delivering fast and powerful performances. Honestly, I think the nickname makes me feel faster!" – drawing laughter from those around her.

Kim Gil-li wasn't the only one delivering a 'one-two punch' for Korea. In the men's division, Lim Jong-un (Goyang City Hall), affectionately known as "Ferrari," stormed to a gold medal in the men's 1500m final with a time of 2:14.974, showcasing the depth of Korean short track talent on the global stage. This win is particularly meaningful as it allows Lim to end his season on a high note after a disappointing fall in the Olympic quarterfinals.

Here are the key achievements from the competition so far:

• Kim Gil-li: Gold medal in Women's 1000m (adding World Championship gold to her double Olympic gold from Milan).
• Lim Jong-un: Gold medal in Men's 1500m (a spectacular end to his debut senior season).
• Men's Relay: Advanced to the 5000m relay final.
• Mixed Relay: Advanced to the 2000m relay final (Team: Lim Jong-un, Kim Gil-li, Hwang Dae-heon, Lee So-yeon).

Kim Gil-li and Lim Jong-un have successfully carried the thrilling spirit of the Olympics onto the World Championship stage. It's a testament to why the future of Korean short track, led by them, is so bright. Kim will next compete in the women's 1500m preliminaries on the 16th, aiming for her second gold of the tournament. All eyes will be on Montreal to see if 'Lightning Gilly' can strike again.