South Korean short track speed skaters train for the 2026 Winter Olympics at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan on Wednesday. Photo by Yonhap
South Korea has been projected to grab three gold medals and finish 14th in the medal table at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
According to data provided to Yonhap News Agency by the Canadian sports data analysis company Shoreview Sports Analytics (https://www.shoreview-analytics.ca), South Korea will take home three gold medals, two silver medals and two bronze medals.
The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee has also set out to bring home at least three gold medals, one more than the country’s total from the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.
According to the company, snowboarder Choi Gaon will win the women’s halfpipe title, while short track speed skater Kim Gil-li will win the women’s 1,500-meter gold medal and also help South Korea capture the women’s 3,000m relay title.
If the projection holds up, Choi would become the first South Korean to win an Olympic snowboard gold medal.
Shoreview Sports Analytics predicted that all the other South Korean medals will come from short track speed skating: a silver by Choi Min-jeong in the women’s 1,500m and another silver by the men’s 5,000m relay team, along with Choi’s bronze in the women’s 1,000m and a bronze in the mixed 2,000m relay.
South Korea has won more medals in short track than any other country, with 26 gold medals and 53 medals overall.
The Canadian firm, whose work has been cited by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., said South Korea is projected to have a few fourth-place finishes, including in the women’s curling and the four-man bobsleigh.
Shoreview Sports Analytics projected Norway as the top country with 14 gold medals, followed by the United States with 13, Germany with 12 and Canada with 10.
Among Asian countries, Japan (five gold medals) and China (four) were both projected to finish above South Korea.
The Milan-Cortina Games will have their opening ceremony on Friday and will conclude on Feb. 22.
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