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MILAN, Feb. 9 (Yonhap) -- Speed skaters Lee Na-hyun and Kim Min-sun both walked away from their first races of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Monday feeling confident they can reach the podium in their next event.

In the women's 1,000 meters at Milano Speed Skating Stadium here in northern Italy, Lee finished ninth with a time of 1:15.76. Kim clocked 1:16.24 to rank 18th.

Lee Na-hyun of South Korea competes in the women's 1,000-meter speed skating race at the Winter Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026. (Yonhap)

Lee became the first South Korean to crack the top 10 in this race. While she said it was "a meaningful accomplishment," Lee was already looking ahead to her main event, the 500m, scheduled for Sunday.

"If I can keep putting in the work, I feel like I can push for a medal in the 500m," Lee said. "Honestly, I thought I could finish as high as seventh. I put a lot of thoughts into how I should skate here. Once I returned to the athletes' village, I have to wind down a little and watch the race again to start building strategies for the 500m."

Lee Na-hyun of South Korea reacts after competing in the women's 1,000-meter speed skating race at the Winter Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026. (Yonhap)

Lee said she felt inspired after watching two Dutch skaters, Jutta Leerdam and Femke Kok, break Olympic records only minutes apart.

First, it was Kok crossing the line in 1:12.59 to take the top spot. But Leerdam, skating in the final pair alongside the defending champion and the former Olympic record holder from Japan, Miho Takagi, topped Kok with a time of 1:12.31.

Kim Min-sun of South Korea reacts after competing in the women's 1,000-meter speed skating race at the Winter Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026. (Yonhap)

"I learned a great deal just by watching them skate," Lee said. "I realized just how much harder I have to work, and I felt extra motivated to stand on the podium."

Kim saw the silver lining from what on the surface appeared to be a disappointing race. Her time on Monday was her second-slowest time in five major international competitions this season.

Still, Kim said she was pleased with the way she covered the first 200m. Her split of 17.83 seconds was the fifth-best mark in the field.

Kim Min-sun of South Korea competes in the women's 1,000-meter speed skating race at the Winter Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan on Feb. 9, 2026. (Yonhap)

"I wanted to post a good time over the early stretch and I felt like I accomplished that goal," Kim said. "I am feeling confident that I can have a pretty good race in the 500m, which is my main event."

Kim admitted skating in the 1,000m was merely part of her preparation for the 500m.

"My ultimate goal is to win a medal in the 500m, and I tried to use this race to help me accomplish that objective," Kim said. "I've been having difficulties with my start all season but I am satisfied with the way this race went today. My hard work paid off a little bit today."

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