Day One of the Nederlandse Loterij ISU World Short Track Championships 2024 presented by Odido at Rotterdam Ahoy was an absolute rollercoaster.
Two outstanding athletes picked up debut ISU World Championship golds. Teenager Kim Gilli (KOR) cemented her position as the sport’s most exciting star, keeping a cool head to win a chaotic 1500m, while Kim Boutin (CAN) – a racing legend in her homeland, but one who had never taken a World Championship title – finally broke that hoodoo with an unexpected 500m triumph.
Kim follows up Crystal Globe dominance with 1500m World title
The women’s 1500m was a thriller, with the three best long-distance racers of 2023-24 going head-to-head.
19-year-old Kim, Kristen Santos-Griswold (USA) and Hanne Desmet (BEL) have been ranked one, two and three in this distance this term and in Rotterdam, the trio exchanged the lead in the early stages, with Corinne Stoddard (USA) and Suk Hee Shim (KOR) also stretching things at the front.
With four laps to go, the lightning Santos-Griswold turned on the burners. The others strained to keep up, and Desmet attempted a trademark last-lap pass. But as the pair duelled, Desmet committed a foul on the American, allowing Kim to slip through for victory.
Santos-Griswold had to settle for silver while Stoddard, fourth over the line, took bronze after Desmet’s disqualification.
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