Short Track Speed Skating at the 2018 Winter Olympics

The big news in short track speed skating in run-up to the Olympic was six-time Olympic champion Viktor An, who had represented Korea earlier but now competed for Russia, had been barred from the Olympics. Like many Russian athletes he was barred from entering based on the McLaren Report into widespread doping abuse in Russia. The decision to bar him was controversial, as there existed no clear indications of doping use by An, and no detailed explanation for the expulsion was given. Although An hadn’t been as dominant in competition as during the 2006 and 2014 Olympics, this removed a strong medal favourite from the men’s events.

An’s disqualification increased the expectation of the host nation to do well. Since the introduction of the sport at the Olympics in 1992, South Korea had been the most successful nation, winning 24 gold medals and 48 medals overall. Despite some disappointments, South Korea indeed emerged as the most successful nation from the Gangneung Ice Arena, winning 3 golds and six medals. The remaining five titles were divided between five countries, including Hungary and Netherlands, both winning their first gold medals in the sport.