Speed Skating Team SHATTERED! Olympic Dreams in Jeopardy?!

South Korea's national Speed Skating team is taking an interesting approach as the Winter Olympics loom large, opting for a split strategy in these final crucial weeks of preparation. It seems some of the athletes will be heading for one last taste of international competition, while others are digging in for some good, old-fashioned home training. It's a gamble, but one the coaching staff clearly believes will pay off.

Speed Skating Team SHATTERED! Olympic Dreams in Je...

Specifically, medal hopeful Kim Min-sun, a force to be reckoned with in the women's 500 meters, and Kim Jun-ho, the national record holder in the men's 500m, are set to compete at the International Skating Union (ISU) Speed Skating World Cup event in Inzell, Germany. The competition kicks off next Friday. Sources tell us the pair are scheduled to jet off to Germany this Sunday, using that as a launching pad before heading to Italy for the Winter Olympics, which open with much fanfare on Feb. 6.

But it's not all international travel for the South Korean squad. Lee Na-hyun, a rising star showing real promise in the women's 500m, will be staying put in Korea. She'll be joined by some equally important teammates: mass start medal hopefuls Chung Jae-won and Park Ji-woo, who are competing in the men's and women's events, respectively. Their focus is laser-locked on that Olympic ice.

Interestingly, with the Olympic quota spots already locked down after those intense first four World Cup races, the fifth World Cup of the season in Inzell will be a bit…different. You might not see *all* the sport's top skaters there, some are saving their energy. However, Kim Min-sun and Kim Jun-ho obviously see value in one last competitive push. They're both hungry for that first Olympic medal, and you can't fault them for wanting to sharpen their skills one last time. It’s worth noting that Kim Min-sun is heading to her third Winter Games, while Kim Jun-ho is a seasoned veteran gearing up for his *fourth*. Experience counts.

Meanwhile, the athletes staying back home, especially Chung and Park, are playing their cards very close to their vests. And honestly, who can blame them? The mass start event is a tactical minefield – it's all about strategy and timing. Some skaters prefer to conserve their energy in the early laps before unleashing a furious sprint at the end, while others attempt to seize an early lead and hold on for dear life. Revealing your game plan before the Olympics? That could be a disastrous mistake.

The athletes training on home ice are scheduled to make their way to Italy on Jan. 30. The pressure is on to improve on the performance at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Remember, South Korea walked away with two silver and two bronze medals in speed skating then, but – and this is a big "but" – that marked the first time since 2006 that the nation *didn't* win a gold medal in the sport. They'll be looking to change that this time around. No pressure, kids!