Kim Junho Shatters 500m National Record for World Cup Bronze

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South Korean Speed Skater Kim Junho Claims Bronze and Sets National Record

South Korean speed skater Kim Junho, a short-distance specialist, made headlines by securing a bronze medal at the World Cup while breaking the national record in the men’s 500m event. The achievement highlights his growing prowess on the international stage.

Kim Junho, 30 years old and affiliated with the Gangwon Provincial Government, completed the second Division A race of the men’s 500m event at the 2025-2026 International Skating Union (ISU) Speed Skating World Cup held at the Utah Olympic Oval in Salt Lake City, Utah, on the 17th (Korean time). He clocked a time of 33.78 seconds, finishing third behind Netherlands’ Jenning de Boo (33.63 seconds) and Kazakhstan’s Yevgeniy Koshkin (33.67 seconds).

This remarkable time improved upon the previous South Korean record of 34.03 seconds set by Cha Min-kyu (Dongducheon City Hall) in 2019 by 0.25 seconds. Additionally, Kim also bettered his personal best of 34.07 seconds by 0.29 seconds. His performance was impressive from start to finish, as he passed the first 100m in 9.49 seconds and maintained his speed throughout the race to secure a podium spot.

Kim Junho had previously won a bronze medal at the 2025 Harbin Winter Asian Games, further cementing his reputation as one of South Korea's top short-distance skaters.

Lee Na-hyun Shines in Women’s Division with First World Cup Medal

In the women’s division, rookie Lee Na-hyun (20 years old, Korea National Sport University) delivered a standout performance. She recorded a personal best of 37.03 seconds in the second 500m race held on the same day, finishing third and earning her first World Cup individual event medal.

Although she placed 11th with 37.34 seconds in the first race the previous day, Lee showed significant improvement. She passed the first 100m in 10.44 seconds and staged a strong chase to claim bronze in the second race. Her determination and resilience were evident as she bounced back from a less-than-optimal start to finish on the podium.

The women’s 500m race saw Femke Kok of the Netherlands set a new world record of 36.09 seconds to win gold. This broke the world record of 36.36 seconds set by South Korea’s Lee Sang-hwa in 2013 by 0.27 seconds after 12 years. Kok expressed her admiration for Lee Sang-hwa, stating, “I dreamed of this record by watching Lee Sang-hwa’s race hundreds of times. It feels unbelievable.”

Lee Sang-hwa’s record was the longest-standing Olympic event world record. The venue, Salt Lake City, is known as a “record factory” due to its high altitude, low air resistance, and optimal ice conditions. Lee Sang-hwa herself set her world record here in 2013.

Other South Korean Performances at the World Cup

South Korea’s Kim Min-seon (Uijeongbu City Hall) finished 17th with a time of 37.46 seconds in the women’s 500m event. In the men’s mass start, Jeong Jae-won (Uijeongbu City Hall) placed 11th, while Jo Seung-min (Dongbuk High School) came in 12th. Lim Ri-won (Uijeongbu Girls’ High School) ranked 15th in the women’s mass start.

These performances highlight the depth of talent in South Korean speed skating, with both seasoned athletes and rising stars contributing to the nation’s presence on the global stage. As the competition continues, fans will be watching closely to see how these skaters perform in future events.

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