[Correction] Seoul Olympics 38th Anniversary Grand Prix Speed Skating to Be Held

*This content was translated by AI.

To commemorate the 38th anniversary of the Seoul Olympics, a Grand Prix speed skating event will ignite the waters at Misari.

The 'Seoul Olympics 38th Anniversary Grand Prix Speed Skating', scheduled for September 16 and 17 as the 38th round, will see top competitors who have performed well this season all gather.

For this tournament, the top 12 finishers in average points from rounds 26 through 36 this year have earned qualification.

The athlete drawing the most attention is Kim Hyo-nyeon, last year's winner of this event. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Kim has treated this tournament as the decisive showdown of the season. Based on her recently peak form, she is expected to be assigned an inner lane in the preliminary rounds, putting her in the best possible position to achieve a back-to-back title.

However, Sim Sang-cheol's counterattack should not be underestimated. Having failed to place in the Grand Prix Gyeongju since last year, Sim has quickly recovered his form after overcoming a recent injury-related absence.

This Grand Prix will also see a large number of athletes who have topped major Grand Prix Gyeongju events this season. Kim Do-hwi, the 2023 Grand Prix champion, aims for his third Grand Prix Gyeongju title this year. Also considered strong contenders are Kim Wan-seok, who won the June King of Kings tournament, and Park Won-gyu, who claimed victory at the April Speed On Cup Grand Prix Gyeongju.

Among female athletes, only Lee Ju-young has secured qualification. With her distinctive quick reflexes and bold racing strategy, she can certainly make her presence felt even in competition against male skaters. Experienced competitors Lee Jae-hak and Kim Eung-seon, both well-versed in various Grand Prix Gyeongju events, aim to reach the top ranks through their seasoned race management.

A speed skating official who spoke with this newspaper by phone said, "The key question for this Grand Prix is whether Kim Hyo-nyeon will achieve a back-to-back victory or if a new champion will emerge. Given that top performers from this season are all participating, we expect intense competition from the preliminary rounds through to the finals."

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*This content was translated by AI.