'No ice shock medal for the first time in 24 years → Still, I found hope' In the third round of the Junior World Cup, he won '7 medals including 2 gold medals'

*This content was translated by AI.

Junior athletes, the future of the ice, signaled a rebound, with South Korea's speed skating receiving a shocking report card of "No Medal for the first time in 24 years" at the recently closed Winter Olympics.

The junior speed skating team, led by former leader Ji Eun-sang, set the pride of the Korean ice skating scene by sweeping a total of seven medals, including two gold medals, two silver medals and three bronze medals, at the "2025/26 ISU Junior Speed Skating World Cup," which ended in Inzel, Germany on the 21st (Korea time).

The most notable achievement in this competition came in the men's sprint. Han Man-hyuk (Uijeong High School) won the bronze medal with a time of 1:10.997 in the men's 1,000m, giving the Korean team its first medal. Han Man-hyuk took the top spot in the overall World Cup standings, which combined the results of the first to third tournaments this season, and Shin Sun-woong (Byeolnao), who participated together, ranked second overall, so Korean players booked the top of the podium side by side.

The two players also collaborated for the gold medal with a time of 1:20:942 in the team sprint, which worked with Kim Joon-ha (Seohyun High School). As a result, South Korea proved its solid organizational power by ranking first in the men's team event (team pursuit, mixed relay, and team sprint combined) of the Junior World Cup this season.

The victory was also reported in the neo-senior category, which is the stage of adaptation to the adult stage. Lee Byung-hoon (Seoul General) proudly won the gold medal in the men's neo-senior 500m with a time of 35.21 seconds. Lee Byung-hoon solidified his position as the next-generation ace by ranking first overall in the season and second overall in the 1,000m.

Medallion races continued in mass start and medium and long distances, which are traditional filial piety events. Kim Joon-ha of the men's 1,500m added a silver medal to secure the top spot in the season overall, while Hwang Seo-joon (Uijeong High School) and Kim Seung-gyeom (Seohyun High School) of the men's junior mass start ranked first and third, respectively, showing off their best skills in the world.

In the women's team, Kim Tae-hee (Korea Art High School) and Lim Eun-song (Seohyun High School) won silver and bronze medals in the junior mass start, respectively, ranking second and third in the season overall.

Meanwhile, the national team will continue this momentum and compete in the World Junior Championships, which will be held at the same venue from February 27 to March 1.

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*This content was translated by AI.