"While holding back tears, I got emotional talking about Choi Min-jeong." Bronze medal Kim Ki-li said, "I respect you..." My senior fell apart at the "one word." [the scene of Milan]

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Ki-li (Seongnam City Hall), who won the bronze medal, thanked his senior Choi Min-jeong (Seongnam City Hall), whom he respected.

Kim Ki-li crossed the short track women's final at the '2026 Milan-Cortina D'Ampezzo Winter Olympics' held at the Milan Ice Skating Arena on the 16th (local time) in third place after Sandra Belzebur (1:28.437) and Courtney Saro (1:28.523 in Canada).

While ace Choi Min-jeong (Seongnam City Hall) failed to advance to the final, Kim Ki-li, one of the women's national team's "double-headed coach," won the bronze medal and saved face.

Kim Ki-li aimed for a chance at the rear with the start of the race. With Saro maintaining the lead all the time, Kim Ki-li tried to overtake with four laps to go to third place. Kim Ki-li, who gained momentum, briefly took the lead with two laps to go, but slipped back to third place after falling behind in the competition. Kim Ki-li, who failed to overtake in the last lap, eventually ended up finishing third.

Immediately after the game, Kim Ki-li wiped away tears with regret. Kim Ki-li's original goal, which stood out on various international stages, was the Olympic gold medal. However, Kim Ki-li, who won his first Olympic medal in his career, has established himself as the next ace. Kim Ki-li, who was showing tears, briefly smiled at the courage of his colleagues, including "national team senior" Choi Min-jeong.

After the game, Kim Ki-li's face, which he met in the mixed zone (joint coverage area), showed a sense of regret. Kim Ki-li said to the reporters, "Happy New Year. Even though it was the Lunar New Year holiday, many people cheered for me, so I was able to gain more strength thanks to that," he said with a smile.

When asked how he felt about holding the medal around his neck, he said, "It's heavier than I thought," adding, "I think I want to stand higher now," and he also expressed an undeniable desire for the next gold medal.

Kim Ki-li's bronze medal journey was rough. Kim Ki-li, who had a bad chance of colliding during the semifinal race in the mixed 2000m relay, was also on the verge of elimination in the 1,000m semifinal. He fell under a foul by Haner Desmott (Belgium), but was able to advance to the final stage.

Kim Ki-li said, "There were so many bumps coming to the final. So, in the final, the goal was to "please don't fall this time, and let's play without regret." I'm so relieved that I finished 1,000m without any regrets."

"I think the competitiveness of the athletes has really increased a lot because it's the Olympics," he said, "but I've tried a lot to believe in myself." I did my best to ride it without regret as it is a competition that occurs once every four years," he said.

Kim Ki-li's eyes turned red during the interview when Choi Min-jeong, a senior, came out. Choi Min-jeong was unfortunately eliminated in the semifinals, but she hugged her junior Kim Ki-li and congratulated her.

Kim Ki-li showed tears and couldn't talk for a while, and said, "It was good that my sister, who I respect so much, cheered me up like this," and added, "I was so grateful that everyone just said, 'I rode well.'"

Kim Ki-li, who finished preheating with a valuable bronze medal, now looks at the main events of the 1,500m and 3,000m relay races. "I think I gained more confidence after the 1,000m," he said. I have a relay race the day after tomorrow, and I think I can do it more confidently," he said, adding, "I've grown my desire to do 1,500m so well. I think I just have to run really hard now," he said, expressing his strong determination.

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*This content was translated by AI.