Bormio, Italy

#ShortTrackSkating

The ISU World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships take place in Bormio, Italy from January 31 to February 2.

The event, which has been running since 1994, has often provided an excellent insight into the future of Short Track Speed Skating – with current champions such as Suzanne Schulting, Choi Min Joeng, Shaoang Liu and Lee June Seo making it on to the podium in recent years.

Who will light up the Ice Stadium Bormio?

As ever, it is hard to predict with such young athletes, but the Republic of Korea have sent a strong contingent.

Kim Ji Yoo KOR WCSTSS JPN 2019 International Skating Union ISU 1191022638

Kim Geon Hee (KOR) at the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating (KAZ) 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

Kim Geon Hee (KOR) and Jeon Yumin (KOR) are standout athletes in the Ladies’ field, while Jang Sungwoo (KOR), Kim Taesung (KOR), Lee Joengmin (KOR) and Ahn Hyunjun (KOR) will all compete in the Men’s.

Kim has already won a senior individual ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating title – at Almaty in 2018/19 – and she was part of the Ladies’ Relay team who stormed to 3000m gold at the 2019 ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Lee and Jang, meanwhile, come into the competition fresh from winning gold medals at the Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games. Jang took the 1000m title and Lee the 500m. Both look like fine prospects for future senior teams.

Jonathan So USA YOG 2020 Getty Images

Jonathan So (USA) at the Youth Olympic Games 2020©Getty Images

Jonathan So (USA) and Shogo Miyata (JPN) also dazzled in Switzerland, winning gold medals as part of Lausanne 2020’s mixed-NOC, mixed-gender Relay event.

Yuliia Beresneva (RUS), Chang Hui (TPE) and Gabriel Volet (FRA) were part of the side that took the silver in that event and reunite in Bormio hoping to gain individual honours this time around.

Luliia Beresneva RUS Hui Chang TPE Gabriel Volet FRA Sungwoo Jang KOR YOG 2020

Yuliia Beresneva (RUS), Hui Chang (TPE), Gabriel Volet (FRA) Sungwoo Jang (KOR) at the Youth Olympic Games 2020©Getty Images

Zhang Tianyi (CHN) and Florence Brunelle (CAN) also picked up individual medals in Lausanne and will be ones to watch – along with Felix Pigeon (CAN) and Peter Jaszapati (HUN), the younger brother of Petra, who is making waves on the senior scene.

Felix Pigeon Sergei Milovanov RUS Brandon Kim USA WJSTSSC 2019 International Skating Union ISU  1089865422

Felix Pigeon (CAN), Sergei Milovanov (RUS) and Brandon Kim (USA) at the ISU World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)

Last year’s ISU World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships featured thrilling performances from Seo Whi Min (KOR) and Maame Biney (USA) – now firmly established on the senior circuit. It’ll be fascinating to see who lays down a marker this time around.

Qualifying rounds take place on Friday January 31 with 1500m and 500m finals taking place on Saturday, February 1. The Ladies’ and Men’s 1000m races and 3000m Relays take place on Sunday, February 2.

Where to watch and follow the ISU World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships?

The ISU will offer a live stream on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel.

Subscribe to the ISU Newsletter to receive the latest information. You can also subscribe to the Skating ISU YouTube Channel to receive notifications when live streams start or new videos are published.

Highlights, clips, interviews, behind the scenes:

YouTube: ISU Skating

IG: @isuspeedskating

Facebook: @ISUShortTrackSpeedSkating

Twitter: @ISU_Speed

Follow the conversation with #ShortTrackSkating.

For further information on ISU Short Track Speed Skating visit: isu.org/short-track.