"She Broke a Barrier Even Lee Sang-hwa Couldn't"... 19-Year-Old Lee Na-hyun Becomes First Korean Woman to Crack Top 10 in 1000m

[Financial News] A "fearless teenager" of Korean speed skating has written a new chapter in the nation’s skating history in her first-ever Olympic appearance.
Rising speed skating star Lee Na-hyun of Korea National Sport University shattered the long-standing barrier of a top-10 finish in the women’s 1000m, something no Korean woman had ever achieved. Her performance signaled that she could become the next leading figure in Korean speed skating.
On February 10 (Korea time), at the speed skating stadium in Milan, Italy, Lee Na-hyun crossed the finish line in 1 minute 15.76 seconds in the women’s 1000m at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Out of 30 competitors, she proudly placed ninth overall, becoming the first Korean woman ever to break into the Olympic top 10 in this event.
Her result means more than just a ranking. For years, Korean women’s speed skating, led by superstar sprinter Lee Sang-hwa, dominated the 500m on the world stage. But the 1000m, which demands both speed and endurance, had long been considered an almost insurmountable hurdle.

The previous best Olympic result by a Korean woman in this event was 11th place by Yoo Sun-hee at the 1992 Albertville Games. Even "queen of the ice" Lee Sang-hwa’s best was 12th at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. The task that even these legendary predecessors could not accomplish was pulled off in emphatic fashion by 19-year-old Lee Na-hyun, who has just entered her twenties.
Racing from the outer lane in the 12th pair, Lee Na-hyun attacked from the start. She covered the opening 200m in 17.90 seconds, the ninth-fastest split overall, getting off to a sharp beginning. Even as fatigue mounted in the latter stages, she showed her trademark grit and maintained her speed.
Although she fell slightly short of her personal best of 1:13.92, it was encouraging that she overcame the pressure of her Olympic debut and held her own against the world’s top skaters.

Fellow Korean skater Kim Min-sun of Uijeongbu City Hall, the national record holder, clocked 1:16.24 to finish 18th. Although she placed lower, she flashed explosive speed by recording the fifth-fastest opening 200m split at 17.83 seconds, raising expectations for her remaining events.
The nation’s attention now turns to the women’s 500m on the 16th, the main event for both skaters.
Lee Na-hyun’s historic top-10 finish in the 1000m is a clear sign that she is in peak condition. Having successfully navigated the pressure-filled first race, she is expected to go after a medal in her signature 500m with a lighter step and greater confidence.
All eyes are on whether the blazing run of this 19-year-old who lit up the ice in Milan will culminate in a golden finish on the 16th.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter