Lee Na-hyun, a promising 21-year-old South Korean speed skater, marked her Olympic debut with a commendable performance, achieving top-10 finishes in both the women’s 500m and 1000m events at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. In a recent interview, Lee expressed no regrets about her performance and emphasized her belief in steady preparation leading to potential success on the Olympic podium in the future. She acknowledged areas for improvement, particularly her finishing strength, and has committed to working hard to enhance those aspects leading up to the next Olympics in 2030.

Reflecting on her Olympic experience, Lee considered it invaluable for her athletic career, portraying the event as both an incentive and a learning opportunity. She remarked on the benefits of participating in such a significant competition and noted her excitement for the challenges ahead. Lee aims to return to the Olympic stage in four years as a more evolved athlete, with aspirations to stand on the podium and bring home a medal.

In addition, she mentioned her motivation derived from witnessing world-class competitors during the games, including the remarkable performance by Femke Kok from the Netherlands, who set a new Olympic record. Lee chose to stay and watch the remaining races, valuing the experience of learning from other elite skaters, which she believes will contribute to her own development and preparation for future competitions.