‘New Empress of Ice’ Kim Min-seon (24, Uijeongbu City Hall) will challenge the first all-time record in the last World Cup tournament of the season.
Kim Min-sun won the Women’s 500m Division A at the 5th International Skating Union (ISU) Speed Skating World Cup held in Mazowiecki, Tomaszow, Poland on the 11th (Korean time) with a record of 37.90 seconds. This season, she won all 500 m events in the 1st to 5th World Cup competitions, and with her 300 World Cup points, she firmly maintained her overwhelming world No. 1 ranking.
Kim Min-sun will challenge her pre-season crown in her 6th World Cup, which will be held at the same venue on the 17th and 19th. The World Cup winner in a single season is a record that neither Lee Sang-hwa, the legend of ‘Vancouver-Sochi Olympics’ 2 consecutive victories’ nor ‘German legend’ Yeni Wolf, could achieve. Lee Sang-hwa won all the 1st to 7th races of the World Cup in the 2013-2014 season, but after winning two consecutive victories at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014, he did not participate in the remaining World Cup competitions and could not rise to the previous crown. 스포츠토토
The race of Kim Min-seon, nicknamed the ‘new ice queen’ this season, was brilliant every moment. After winning her first World Cup in November last year, she competed in every 500m race in the world, both domestic and international, and she never missed first place. She swept the first place in the 1st to 5th World Cups, and in particular, on December 17 last year, in the 4th competition in Calgary, Canada, she broke her personal record of 36 seconds 96. She came close to Lee Sang-hwa’s world record (36 seconds 36, 2013) by 0.6 seconds. Following the Four Continent Championships and three Winter Universiade titles in Lake Placid, USA, she also won the Korean Winter Sports Festival, surpassing Lee Sang-hwa’s record. Kim Min-seon’s race with the goal of “ranking first in all competitions for the rest of the season” is now nearing its end.
‘Kim Min-sun’s team’, Uijeongbu City Hall coach Jegal Seong-ryeol gave special meaning to the victory of the last 5th competition, which was achieved after overcoming all physical, psychological and environmental trials. “The stadium in Poland, where the 5th and 6th competitions are held, is very cold, and the ice condition itself is a situation where it is difficult to speed up as if the ice is pulling the skates,” he said. All player records went back by one second. Compared to European and North American players who have good power, it is a worse condition for Asian players.” At this stadium, Kim Min-sun won the championship by taking a record of 37 seconds alone. Coach Jegal praised, “(Kim) Min-seon participated in all domestic and international competitions in the second half of the season and produced results in the most difficult stadium despite physical difficulties. I really appreciate the victory in the 5th competition.” did.
The last World Cup of the season, which will be held in the same stadium, is a difficult situation in which expectations for the previous championship are rising amidst the physical burden and worst environment in the second half of the season. Coach Jegal expressed his unwavering faith, saying, “He is a player with good concentration and fighting spirit. He will overcome well.” However, the leader and fans all want only ‘the best race’ for this player who poured out everything this season and swept all the top places in the world. Coach Jegal said, “We have already achieved great results this season. We have already achieved great things. From now on, the remaining competitions are to go beyond human limits. The real goal is the Milan Winter Olympics three years from now, and we are now It’s just in the process,” he reiterated. He expressed his support by saying, “I have already done very well. So I hope you will shake off the pressure and ride with excitement, focus, and comfort as always.”