Montreal / Canada

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After finishing first in the Ladies’ 1500-metre Final just hours earlier, Min Jeong Choi  (KOR) glided her way to the top of the podium in the Ladies’ 500-metre Final and Natalia Maliszewska made history for Poland at the 2018 ISU World Short Tack Speed Skating Championships in Montreal.

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Min Jeong Choi (KOR)

Again buoyed by the home crowd, Canada’s Kim Boutin led early on before falling with three laps to go. That allowed Natalia Maliszewska (POL) to grab the lead until Choi made her final push and distanced herself from the pack.

 

It matched the best-ever finish for Maliszewska in any international competition and her highest finish in a World Championship event. "It’s the first medal from the World Championships in the 500 in the history of Poland," said the elated 22-year-old, participating in only her second World Championship at senior level.

 

"I’m writing history again because I also won a silver medal three years ago here in Montreal in the World Cup, also in the 500. I can’t believe it happened. I’m not used to things like that. I’m so happy."

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Natalia Maliszewska of Poland (L), Min Jeong Choi of Korea (C) and Chunyu Qu of China (R) hold up their medals after 500m

 

Qu Chinyu (CHN) earned the bronze medal, edging out Jamie MacDonald (CAN).

 

Despite minimal preparation time because of the quick turnaround from the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, 19-year-old Choi showed little sign of tiredness. "Today, I’m very, very happy," she said. "500 metres is a hard distance but I got good results."

 

China’s Li Jinyu earned top spot in the B Final ahead of Kathryn Thomson (GBR).