Former short track skater Kim Geon-woo dies at 28, three months after retirement

Kim Geon-woo, a former South Korean national team short track speed skater, has died at 28.

A death notice posted Wednesday on Kim's SNS account asked for understanding from those who could not be reached individually. "We are overwhelmed by the sudden tragic news and hope you will understand that we were unable to contact everyone personally," the notice read. "We would be grateful for your warm condolences and prayers for the deceased as he departs on his final journey."

The last post on his personal account appeared on Sept. 2, leaving behind the brief words "As eternity goes" — a detail that has deepened the grief of those who knew him.

Kim had announced his retirement through his personal account on June 22, bringing his athletic career to a close.

"Hello, this is Kim Geon-woo. I am now stepping away from short track speed skating, which has been my entire life since childhood," he wrote at the time. "Honestly, it still doesn't feel real. I have always lived with the image of myself on the ice, and even as I write these words, my heart feels heavy. There were moments during my career when I was happier than anyone, and there were also times when I was worn out and struggling. But it is because of all those moments that I am who I am today."

He added: "The moments I competed wearing the national team uniform, the athletes and coaches I sweated alongside, and the fans who always cheered me on — I don't think I will ever forget any of it. I was an imperfect athlete, but I am sincerely grateful that you supported and believed in me until the very end. Thank you for sharing the brightest moments of my life with me."

He closed by writing, "I will always cheer for short track going forward," extending his support to athletes continuing the sport in South Korea and around the world.

Born in 1998, Kim was one of the leading figures in South Korean men's short track. During the 2023-2024 ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup season, he claimed gold in the men's 1,000 meters at the first leg, then won the men's 1,500 meters at both the second and third legs — earning individual gold medals at three consecutive World Cup events. He also held the World Cup overall No. 1 ranking at the time of the third event.

He represented South Korea at last year's 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games, competing in the mixed 2,000-meter relay preliminary round and helping the team advance to the final. South Korea won the final, and Kim received a gold medal along with his teammates.

Kim continued competing after that but fell short of securing a full national team berth at the trials for the 2026 Winter Olympics, remaining an alternate and missing out on the Olympic stage.