Kim Gil-li of Korea, front, and Corinne Stoddard of the United States fall to the ice following a collission in the Mixed Team Relay semifinals of the Short Track Speed Skating competitions at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy, Feb. 10. EPA-Yonhap

MILAN — South Korea missed out on a medal in short track speed skating's mixed team relay at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Tuesday, after crashing out of the semifinals following an on-ice collision.

The quartet of Choi Min-jeong, Kim Gil-li, Rim Jong-un and Hwang Dae-heon finished third in their group in the semifinals at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan, with only the top two nations from the two groups progressing to the final.

With six laps remaining in this 18-lap, 2,000-meter race, Kim got tripped up by Corinne Stoddard of the United States, who lost her balance and fell after briefly moving out in front. South Korea was in third place at the time behind the U.S. and Canada.

South Korea crossed the line in third place and settled for the consolation "B" final.

A South Korean team official lodged an on-site protest with officials, asking for an "advancement" for South Korea due to a U.S. penalty, but the final results did not change.

The referee of the given race may choose to push a skater or a team through to the next round when a skater who was in a strong position is fouled or blocked by another skater.

However, a skater or a team must have been in at least second place at the time of any foul or rules violation by an opponent. With Kim in third place when she crashed into Stoddard, South Korea accepted the final decision.

According to a team official, Kim was "a little sore" but should have no problem skating in upcoming races.

Kim Min-jung, an assistant coach on the team, said Kim Gil-li had sustained a cut on her right arm and received some treatment for bleeding. The skater will undergo further tests on swelling in her right hand, but the coach added, "She said she is fine, and I think she will be good to go in later races."

Source: Korea Times News