SHORT TRACK
First Short Track medals at stake in the Mixed Relay
09 Feb 2026
For more information about Short Track in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, please check here
Fasten your seatbelt, the Short Track competition gets underway on Tuesday, February 10 at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
The first medals are at stake in the Mixed Relay 2000m, while the Women and Men start in the competition with the 500m and 1000m heats. The Women’s 500m heats kick off at 10.30 am local time at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, followed by the Men’s 1000m heats and the Mixed Relay quarter-finals.
China aims for back-to-back golds
- China, pictured above*, the reigning Olympic Champions in the Mixed Relay, will aim to repeat their success in Milan.
- China has a traditionally strong team, but their rivals have been catching up.
- The challenge will come from the formidable Republic of Korea team and Canada, the ISU Team Crystal Globe winners for the past two years.
Canada will be targeting a gold medal in the Mixed Relay in Milan © ISU
All eyes on the stars in the 500m and 1000m heats
- In the Women’s 500m heats, all eyes will be on defending Olympic Champion Arianna Fontana (ITA) and 2022 Olympic bronze medalist Kim Boutin (CAN), as well as on Xandra Velzeboer (NED).
- In the Men’s 1000m heats, 2022 Olympic bronze medalist Liu Shaoang is back, but competes for China now. He represented Hungary four years ago.
- Others to watch are Korea’s exciting newcomer Rim Jongun, and two-time Olympic medalist Steven Dubois (CAN).
Arianna Fontana will be cheered on by a home crowd on Tuesday © ISU
Quick Facts
- Twelve Mixed Relay teams will compete.
- The competition starts with the quarter-finals.
- The two best teams in each quarter-final (Q) and the two fastest third-placed teams (q) qualify for the semi-finals.
- A total of 32 women compete in the 500m heats and 32 men go into the 1000m heats.
- The two best athletes in each heat (Q) and the four fastest third-placed athletes (q) qualify for the quarter-finals.
- The Women’s 500m and Men’s 1000m will conclude on Thursday, February 12 with the quarters, semi-finals and finals.
*credit: Getty Images
