‘Dream’ start continues for debutant Kim as Boutin bounces back
The 18-year-old Kim Gilli (KOR) may insist that Short Track Speed Skating at the highest level is “not easy” but she is certainly making it look that way.
In her debut season as a senior, Gilli’s individual World Cup record reads: three races, one gold, one silver and one bronze. Her gold medal in the Women’s 1500m at the ISU World Cup in Salt Lake City on Saturday, after silver in the 1500m and bronze in the 1000m(2) in Montreal last weekend, was one of the highlights of a thrilling night of racing.
18-year-old Kim Gilli (KOR) continued her great start to the World Cup season with gold in the 1500m. © International Skating Union
Despite lining up against the two-time reigning 1500m Olympic champion, Choi Min Jeong, Gilli gave off an air of absolute confidence. The teenager, who was the 2021 1500m Junior world champion, slipped serenely past her compatriot Choi with five laps to go. It was a lead she never looked like relinquishing.
Choi ended up third, with Germany’s Anna Seidel grabbing a welcome silver on the last lap.
“It does feel good to beat Choi,” Gilli admitted before breaking into infectious giggles. “I never expected this success. It is a surprise.
“It’s like a dream, I am so excited. But it is not easy. It’s very hard.”
Double Olympic champion Choi Min Jeong (right) had to settle for bronze in the 1500m. © International Skating Union
Bringing back the smiles
Seidel knows just how hard Short Track can be. The 24-year-old won 1500m and overall silver at the 2021 European Championships seemingly setting herself up for a tilt at Olympic glory in 2022. But it did not work out like that with the injured German falling during the 1500m quarterfinals, her only race in Beijing.
“I am just so happy and relieved to be back here, after all the pressure of last season I have just been focusing on smiling this season, it’s a new strategy for me,” Seidel said after her silver.
“I have always been hard on myself and now I am just grateful to be here, to be healthy. I am being nice to myself.”
Fellow skater Natalia Maliszewska (POL) is in a similar position. The 27-year-old was European 500m champion back in 2019 and is a four-time World Cup sprint champion but after a huge build-up her Beijing 2022 did not go to plan, a 17th place finish in the 1000m proving her best individual result.
“I came into this season not caring if I’m in shape but just wanting to have fun, to smile, to bring back my happiness,” Maliszewska said after snatching silver behind Canada’s evergreen Kim Boutin in the 500m(1) final on Saturday. Hometown favorite Kristen Santos-Griswold (USA) took bronze.
“I decided to start on my own, to befriend new people, to try a new environment,” the Pole explained of a move to train with team Kazakhstan. “This medal is for the Kazakhstan staff and team, they are my new friends, my new family.”
Dutch disappointment as Boutin blooms
It was not such a good day for Suzanne Schulting and Xandra Velzeboer with the Dutch pair showing that 24 hours can be a long time in Short Track. On Friday afternoon the duo had blown away their rivals and the weight of history, setting world records in the 1000m and 500m respectively.
Fast-forward a day and first Schulting was penalized for an illegal late pass after cruising across the finish line in first place in her 500m semifinal. Then it was Velzeboer’s time. The new sprint world record holder clashed with Maliszewska in her semifinal and was subsequently penalized.
Having broken the world record on Friday, Xandra Velzeboer didn't make the 500m final after being penalized. © International Skating Union
It left former world record holder and two-time Olympic 500m bronze medalist Kim Boutin (CAN) as one of the favorites for gold in most people’s mind, if not her own.
“I didn’t have the legs so I just had to give what I could,” Boutin said after taking gold in a time of 43.095 to finish ahead of Maliszewska.
“I just had to try and control the race, lean on strategy. I did a good block on Natalia (Maliszewska).”
Boutin has endured a tough start to the season, failing to make a final in Montreal’s opening World Cup meet.
“I have been trying new things in training but it’s not working out. I have tried to load up more (on weight),” the Canadian explained. “But I am struggling with recovery. We will work it out.”
Worrying words for her rivals no doubt.
Racing continues for the women in Salt Lake City with the 1000m, 500m(2) and 3000m Relay finals on Sunday.
For all information about the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating Series, please visit webpage here.
World Cup Classification - Men
Overall World Cup Classification
World Cup Classification - Women
Overall World Cup Classification
World Cup Classification – Mixed Relay
Where to watch
Viewers will be able to watch the Saturday and Sunday afternoon (local time) World Cup sessions via their national broadcaster/channel.
For countries where there are no broadcasters and for the qualification and repechage races, the ISU will offer a live stream on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel. You will find the full list on the Where to watch webpage here.
ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating Series events 2022/23:
Oct 28 - 30, 2022 Montréal /CAN
Nov 04 - 06, 2022 Salt Lake City /USA
Dec 09 - 11, 2022 Almaty /KAZ
Dec 16 - 18, 2022 Almaty /KAZ
Feb 03 - 05, 2023 Dresden /GER
Feb 10 - 12, 2023 Dordrecht /NED
About ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating Series
The ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating Series celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2022. Launched in 1997/98, the Series usually consists of six events (four during an Olympic season) that take place in North America, Europe and Asia.
The competitions have a single distance character across nine distances (500, 1000 and 1500 meters for Women and Men, Women 3000 meters Team Relay, Men 5000 meters Team Relay and a Mixed Gender Relay over 2000 meters), and to mark its 25th anniversary, the series now also includes an Overall World Classification based on an accumulation of points from all individual distances which will determine a Combined Season Ranking and a Season Champion in the Women and Men categories. These Champions will be awarded with the new ISU World Cup Short Track Crystal Globe Trophy.
Each competition is held over three days (day 1 is dedicated to all Qualifying Rounds, days 2 and 3 consist of the last Qualifying Rounds followed by the World Cup sessions). For the Mixed Gender Relay Teams (2 Women & 2 Men), the Women 3000 meters Relay races and Men 5000 meters Relay races a maximum of four Skaters shall compete and must belong to the same ISU Member. For further information please visit isu.org.
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