*This content was translated by AI.
Lin Xiaojun (Korean name Lim Hyo-jun), who also won a gold medal with Korean nationality, will participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina D'Ampezzo. Local Chinese media reported Lin Xiaojun's return to the Olympic stage, highlighting his ordeal in Korea and his position as a short track skater in China.
Chinese media "Sina Sports" reported on the 24th (Korea Standard Time) that "Lin Xiaojun, 29, who was criticized by Korean netizens as a traitor, will participate in the Winter Olympics under the Chinese flag for the first time after waiting."
The media explained that Lin Xiaojun was a gold medalist in the men's 1,500m at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, but he was disciplined for an incident that occurred during training in 2019 and chose to naturalize in China in June 2020.
According to International Olympic Committee (IOC) regulations, he did not participate in the 2022 Beijing Olympics three years after the nationality change, he said. "Korean netizens called him a traitor, but now he is representing China."
According to reports, after naturalization, Lin Xiaojun proved his skills by winning three gold medals at the 2024 Rotterdam World Championships and the men's 5,000m relay at the 2025 Harbin Winter Asian Games. Lin Xiaojun told the media, "It was awkward when I first wore the national team uniform, but now I think I am Chinese. I am very proud and grateful," he said.
On the same day, Chinese media Sohu Dotcom paid attention to the confrontation between Lin Xiaojun and Hwang Daeheon. The media reported, "Lin Xiaojun, who will return to the Olympics after eight years, will compete for medals with his former colleague Hwang Dae-heon in Milan."
"According to Korean media, Chinese media expressed that Lin Xiaojun was treated and oppressed unfairly in Korea, and that Korea abandoned him," Sohu said. "Lin Xiaojun, who was expelled from Korea, feels true brotherhood and warmth in China. In particular, when he won the gold medal at the Harbin Asian Games in February, the moment he sang the marching song of the Chinese national volunteer army became a big topic," he said.
It also covered Lin Xiaojun's position in the Chinese national team. "Chinese star Wu Dajing has retired, but veterans such as Liu Xiaoang and Lin Xiaojun are guarding the ice," the media said. "Lin Xiaojun is a player with excellent skating skills and last-minute spurt ability."
Lin Xiaojun had surgery in February after injuring his left shoulder during training in November 2024. Lin Xiaojun, who underwent rehabilitation, qualified for the Olympics by winning a silver medal in the 500m in the third round of the International Skating Union (ISU) World Tour in November.
With the addition of Lin Xiaojun, the short-track competition between South Korea and China has emerged as a major concern for the Olympics. In particular, there is a high possibility that South Korea's Hwang Dae-heon and China's Lin Xiaojun will face off in the mixed 2,000-meter relay on February 10, the beginning of the competition. Hwang Dae-heon, the gold medalist in the 1500m at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, also plans to participate in this competition.
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*This content was translated by AI.
