SK Speed Skating SHOCK: 24-Year Medal Streak OVER! What Happened?!

Milan - A surprising silence fell over the Milano Speed Skating Stadium on Saturday. For the first time in 24 years, the South Korean speed skating team walked away from an Olympic competition empty-handed. This drought snapped a quarter-century legacy of podium finishes, a streak that had become synonymous with South Korean winter sports dominance. It's a tough pill to swallow for a nation so passionate about speed skating.

SK Speed Skating SHOCK: 24-Year Medal Streak OVER!...

The day's hopes rested on the shoulders of Chung Jae-won in the men's mass start and Park Ji-woo in the women's event. Chung, a seasoned competitor, finished a respectable fifth, clocking in at 8:04.60. However, "respectable" isn't quite enough when you're chasing Olympic glory. Park, unfortunately, struggled to find her rhythm and finished further back in 14th place in the women's mass start.

The men's race was ultimately dominated by Dutch skater Jorrit Bergsma, who secured gold with a time of 7:55.50. Viktor Hald Thorup of Denmark took silver (8:00.52), and Italy's Andrea Giovannini snagged the bronze (8:04.42), sending the home crowd into a frenzy. Jordan Stolz of the United States, already a multiple medalist at these games, finished just ahead of Chung in fourth place (8:04.51). It was a fiercely competitive race, where fractions of a second determined fates.

There was particular pressure on Chung, a veteran at only 24. Having earned a team pursuit silver at PyeongChang 2018 and a mass start silver in Beijing, he was aiming to become the youngest South Korean speed skater to claim at least three Olympic medals. It's easy to forget that he was only 16 when he first stood on the podium at PyeongChang. He had the experience, but things simply didn't align for him this time around.

Chung started the race strategically from the back, gradually working his way up to fifth. But a brief dip back to 12th place around the halfway mark made it a difficult climb. Bergsma and Thorup had already surged ahead, setting a blistering pace. Despite a valiant effort and a strong final push, Chung missed out on the bronze by a mere 0.18 seconds. That’s how close it can be at this level.

Park Ji-woo faced similar challenges in the women's mass start. The race was tightly contested, with no skater able to establish a significant lead early on. The sprint began with two laps remaining, and while Park briefly surged into ninth place, she ultimately couldn't maintain that position and finished 14th. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you just can’t find the right opening. With one day of competition remaining, South Korea holds three gold, four silver, and three bronze medals. While a medal haul is impressive, the absence of a Speed Skating medal leaves a noticeable void.