2018-2019 short track season recap: Korea

Once again this season South Korea was a force to be reckoned with on the short track speed skating international circuit.

By Jackob Savard

Photo: Martin Holtom

Here’s our recap of what has been another great season for team Korea on the short track international circuit.

Choi Min Jeong and Kim Ji Yoo led the ladies’ team

Even if her season started slowly, Choi Min Jeong was very strong in the second half of it. The 20-year-old, who’s already a three time overall world champion, ended her season in 3rd position of the 1500m World cup ranking. She wasn’t able to defend her overall world champion title but still won the 1500m and finished 2nd overall at the championships. Her 19-year-old teammate Kim Ji Yoo, last year’s world junior champion, had an excellent season concluding it in 2nd place of the 1500m ranking and finishing 5th overall in Sofia, Bulgaria at the World championships. Other Korean skaters such as Kim Geon Hee and Noh Ah Rum had good results for Korea this season.

A successful men’s squad

We saw once again a diversified Korean men’s team this season.  Lim Hyo Jun, Lee June Seo, Kim Gun Woo, Park Ji Won and Hong Kyung Hwan all ended in the top 3 of at least one distance in the overall World cup classification. All three individual World cup distances were won by a Korean as Lim won the 500m ranking, Park the 1000m and Kim the 1500m. Korea’s success continued at the World championships as Lim Hyo Jun claimed his first overall world champion title winning three of the four distances of these championships. His teammates Hwang Dae Heon and Lee June Seo respectively finished 2nd and 6th at this important competition. Hwang was crowned world champion on the 500m for a second year in a row. Team Korea also won the 5000m relay world champion title to end what was another great season for them.

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2018-2019 long track season recap: Norway

Here’s our 2018-2019 season recap for team Norway in long track speed skating.

By Jackob Savard

Photo: Schaats Foto’s

Norway’s success in the 2018-2019 season were mostly brought by Havard Lorentzen and Sverre Lunde Pedersen.

Well placed in the World cup rankings

The Norwegian team collected some good results in the overall World cup ranking. Havard Lorentzen was again one of the best sprinters in the world this season. He collected four podiums on 500m including a victory and ended the season in 3rd position of the ranking on the distance. He also finished 5th of the 1000m final ranking. Alongside his teammates, Lorentzen also helped Norway finish in 2nd place of the team sprint events. Norwegian men were solid on 1500m placing four skaters in the top 10 (Allan Dahl Johansson, Havard Bokko, Sverre Lunde Pedersen and Sindre Henriksen). These skaters also finished 1st in the team pursuit. Sverre Lunde Pedersen ended his season with a 3rd place in the long distances ranking with three podiums in six races. The ladies’ team had less success, but Ida Njatun managed to finish 13th and 10th on 1000m and 1500m respectively.

Lorentzen and Pedersen medalists at the championships

Norway had reasons to celebrate in the championships season. Havard Lorentzen raced the 2nd best time at the single distance championships on 500m and was 4th on 1000m. He also finished 2nd of the European sprint championships, but wasn’t able to defend his world sprint champion title as he finished 4th. Sverre Lunde Pedersen claimed his 1st world champion title in career with a dominant 5000m race at the World single distances championships. He also finished 2nd on 1500m and in the team pursuit at this competition. Adding to his single distances success, Pedersen collected a 3rd position at the European allround championships and a 2nd place at the World allround championships.

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