"Lin Xiaojun Will Bring Down Korea" – Chinese Media's Provocation... A 'Gold Medal War' Looms With Hwang Dae-heon

[Financial News] Fears have become reality, and the war without gunfire has already begun.
With the opening of the 2026 Winter Olympics Milano Cortina just three weeks away on the 16th, the China national short track speed skating team has squarely set its sights on South Korea. At the forefront stands Lin Xiaojun (Korean name Lim Hyo-jun), who now wears the Five-star Red Flag on his chest instead of the Flag of South Korea (Taegeukgi). By a twist of fate, his first target is expected to be his "former teammate," Hwang Dae-heon of the Gangwon Provincial Office team.
Recently, Chinese outlets such as Sina Sports and Sohu.com reported that "the China men's national short track speed skating team, including Lin Xiaojun, has completed its preparations for the Olympics," adding, "the most important goal is the mixed relay gold medal, and they must get past South Korea," openly expressing their confidence.
In particular, reports carrying the nuance that "Lin Xiaojun will bring down South Korea" are driving tensions between South Korea and China to a peak ahead of the Olympics. After dramatically announcing his survival on the international stage by winning the silver medal in the 500 m at the ISU Short Track World Tour third event last month, Lin is now sharpening his focus on proving his worth in Milan.

The focal point for fans is the mixed 2,000 m relay, which will set the tone in the early stages of the Games. China enters as the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics champion, while South Korea steps in with the pride of being ranked No. 1 in this season's ISU Short Track World Tour standings.
South Korea has assembled an "Avengers" lineup of Hwang Dae-heon, Lim Jong-eon, Choi Min-jeong, and Kim Gil-li. China, for its part, is poised to deploy its full "naturalized legion," led by Lin Xiaojun and including the brothers Liu Shaolin Sándor and Liu Shaoang, who both naturalized from Hungary. There is a very high chance that we will see Lin Xiaojun and Hwang Dae-heon shoulder to shoulder in a clash at the finish line.
The story of these two athletes is closer to a drama than a simple sports narrative. Having shared the Flag of South Korea on their chests and celebrated together at the 2018 Winter Olympics, they crossed a point of no return after an unfortunate incident during training in 2019. Lin Xiaojun left South Korea after facing suspension and legal battles, ultimately choosing to naturalize to China in 2020.


Although they have occasionally crossed paths on the international stage since then, this will be the first time they collide on the biggest stage of all—the Olympic Games—and directly battle for a gold medal. This is why Chinese media are churning out provocative headlines such as, "Lin Xiaojun, effectively discarded by South Korea, will stab them in the back."
With men's team captain Lee Jun-seo vowing, "We will restore the men's relay gold streak that was cut off after Turin 2006, 20 years on," the South Korea national short track speed skating team now faces the task of fending off China's fierce challenge.
Yesterday's comrade has returned as today's most formidable foe. On the ice in Milan, the inevitable "gold medal war" between Hwang Dae-heon and Lin Xiaojun has entered its countdown.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter