Who is Kim Min-sun? South Korean speed skater’s journey from skating rinks to Olympic rings

South Korean speed skater Kim Min-sun is preparing for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy with a powerful personal symbol close to her heart. The 26-year-old, who will compete in the women’s 500-meter and 1,000-meter events, recently bought a custom necklace shaped like the Olympic rings. Made in a soft silver tone, the necklace represents her promise to herself ahead of the Games. She purchased it with fellow skater Park Ji-woo as a shared reminder of their Olympic dreams.The necklace holds extra meaning. It was crafted by a local jewelry artist who once studied in Milan, one of the host cities for the 2026 Olympics. Kim Min-sun first gained attention at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Since then, she has grown into a leading figure in Korean women’s speed skating after the retirement of Lee Sang-hwa. Her rise continued during the 2022-23 ISU World Cup season. She finished first overall in the 500 meters and fourth in the 1,000 meters. These results strengthened her position as a top contender for Milan.However, the journey was not smooth. Ahead of the next season, Kim decided to change her skates. Many elite skaters were moving to blades that were slightly longer. Though the difference was only about one centimeter, it had a major impact on balance and rhythm. Kim chose to follow the trend and also adjusted her training methods. She felt that staying competitive required constant change, even if it meant taking risks.The results did not come right away. Her performance dropped, and pressure increased as the Olympics drew closer. After months of testing, she decided to return to her old skates. The choice brought stability, but confidence was still shaken. During this period, rival Lee Na-hyun began to shine. Lee won medals at the 2025 Asian Winter Games and later defeated Kim at the national sprint championships, raising competition within the team.Kim has since begun to recover her form. She finished seventh at one World Cup event this season and later returned to the podium with a third-place finish. Looking back at her seventh-place result at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Kim now feels stronger. Speaking in an interview at Korea National Training Center in Nowon District, northern Seoul, she said her experience from three Olympic cycles is paying off. With her condition improving, she is determined to arrive in Italy at her best and aim for a podium finish filled with happiness rather than regret.