The CNSG ISU World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships, sponsored by the Chinese National Sports Group, took place in Calgary, Canada, from February 27 to March 2, offering an exciting glimpse into the future of Short Track. This year's event saw a record 40 ISU Members participate, highlighting the sport's continued growth and global reach.

Numerous future Olympic medalists have impressed at this level over the years, and an exciting crop of youngsters – particularly from the host nation and Republic of Korea – put their names up in lights this weekend. 

Oh Songmi (KOR) wins at the CNSG ISU World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Calgary, Canada © ISU

Rim Jongun (KOR), Oh Songmi (KOR), Kim Minji (KOR), Ayisha Miao Qi (CAN) and Mathieu Pelletier (CAN) in particular enjoyed stellar weekends, and will be looking to make an impact at senior level soon. 

Super Saturday for Canada

Canada and Republic of Korea – who have battled so fiercely at senior level over recent seasons – shared the spoils on Saturday. 

Rim Jongun (KOR) has looked a class apart in the Junior World Cup 1500m races this season, and he secured a well-deserved World Championship title here. 

Rim Jongun (KOR) celebrates another victory at the CNSG ISU World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Calgary, Canada © ISU

 Rim is a fine tactical racer and also physically superior to his rivals over this distance. And, once again, the 17-year-old put fresh air between himself and second place, which on this occasion was occupied by Kim Minwoo (KOR). Sun Xiao (CHN) was third. 

Oh Songmi (KOR) has followed a similar trajectory to Rim at junior level. Twinning boundless energy with technical excellence, she has scooped gold medals all season. Here, she put on another tactical masterclass to grab 1500m gold. Kim Minji (KOR) took silver, with Ayisha Miao Qi (CAN) third.

It was Miao Qi who was to send the local crowd wild, however, with a brilliant victory in the 500m. The Quebec racer has already scored some respectable results on the senior ISU Short Track World Tour, and trains with the likes of Canada legends Kim Boutin and Courtney Sarault every day.

Gold in the 500m: Ayisha Miao Qi (CAN) in Calgary, Canada © ISU

There is no doubt the 19-year-old is one to watch: Miao Qi blasted away Ayano Sekiguchi (JPN), who finished second, and Lyu Wanyu (CHN), who came third. 

The Canadian sprint joy continued in the men’s 500m. There is already a huge buzz around Mathieu Pelletier (CAN). He has broken the world junior record at this distance and become the youngest Canadian male Short Tracker to win a medal at an ISU World Cup event. 

Like Miao Qi, he trains with the best – in  his case, William Dandjinou and Steven Dubois – and had too much speed and race experience for the opposition here. Pelletier, 19, finished ahead of Li Xinyu (CHN), in second, and Kim Minwoo (KOR), in third.

Mathieu Pelletier (CAN) in action at the CNSG ISU World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Calgary, Canada © ISU

Korea rules on Sunday 

In the women’s 1000m, it was again a battle of the Koreans. This time, Kim Minji got the better of Oh Songmi to take gold, narrowly ahead of her teammate. Alina Azhgaliyeva (KAZ) snatched an impressive bronze medal.

Rim, meanwhile, continued his stellar season, tussling to win the men’s 1000m ahead of Zhang Bohao (CHN). Victor Chartrand (CAN) got the bronze. 

The all-star Koreans then combined to win all three relays.

In the mixed team event, they finished ahead of China and Kazakhstan. In the women’s 3000m Relay, Oh and Kim combined to see off great competition from Kazakhstan and Japan.

The Mixed Team 3000m Relay medalists: Republic of Korea (gold, back row), China (silver, front left), Kazakhstan (bronze) at the CNSG ISU World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Calgary, Canada © ISU

Korea’s utter dominance was then confirmed in the men’s 3000m Relay (main picture). They crossed the line ahead of China and Kazakhstan. The Asian nation had seized seven of the nine gold medals on offer. 

Rim, Oh and Kim emerged as the weekend’s stars, and ones to watch over the next few years as they look to make the daunting step up into the Korean senior team.

With Canada on an upward curve at this level, too, they will no doubt be in the mix again next season.