The Republic of Korea’s Kim Gilli and the Netherlands’ Xandra Velzeboer thrilled the packed Maurice Richard Arena on Saturday with their rivalry lighting up the 2026 ISU CNSG Short Track World Championships. 

On a day that continuously showcased the best of the sport, the duo’s battle in the 1000m final still managed to stand out. Ultimately, it was Gilli’s unmatched race craft that won out, the Korean pouncing on the final corner to add world championship gold to her already bulging trophy cabinet.
 

Kim Gilli edges out Xandra Velzeboer for 1000m gold at the ISU CNSG Short Track World Championships in Montreal on Saturday © Getty Images

But silver medallist Velzeboer responded in the sort of style that suggests these two are likely to continue fighting for Short Track’s top honours for many years to come. Leading a team fuelled by Olympic disappointment, Velzeboer was unstoppable in the women’s 3000m relay, landing gold ahead of Italy. China claimed bronze. 

Gilli and her Korean quartet, the recently crowned Olympic champions, failed to make the final having been pushed out of the qualification places by Italy in their semifinal. Italy’s women in blue are enjoying a superb end to the season, with World Championship silver coming hot on the heels of Olympic silver.  

‘Lambor-Gilli’ roars to 1000m gold

Before all that, however, Gilli produced a 1000m final performance that will be remembered for a long time. 

Right from the gun, a selection of the sport’s finest female skaters attempted to negate Gilli’s famed finishing power. Fastest qualifier Corinne Stoddard was the first to hit the front, but Velzeboer took over on the second lap and it seemed inevitable the Dutch maestro would add world gold to the Olympic 1000m title she claimed just weeks ago. 

But she – and much of the crowd – had not reckoned on just how quick Gilli can be when it matters. Fourth with a lap-and-a-half to go and third on the final corner, the 21-year-old simply kept pressing the accelerator to stun Velzeboer on the line.
 

Kim Gilli celebrates 1000m gold on Saturday at the ISU CNSG Short Track World Championships in Montreal © Getty Images

“I was so close to winning gold,” Velzeboer said ruefully, before adding, “but she did a really great job with the finish and it’s just exciting to race on this level.” 

The noise in the arena suggested the thousands of fans agreed. 

“The ice in Montreal suits me well, so I felt more confident and was able to race more boldly,” said Kim.

Her perfect technique has not only now delivered two Olympic and two world championship gold medals, but also landed her a neat nickname. 

“Since my nickname is 'Lambor-Gilli’, I want to be like a Lamborghini, fast and powerful. So, it makes me race faster.” 

Bronze for Elisa Confortola – her first major individual medal – put the gloss on a fantastic season, which saw her reach most of the distance finals on the ISU World Tour. She now has her eyes on the very top.
 

Elisa Confortola (center) took 1000m bronze at the ISU CNSG Short Track World Championships in Montreal © Getty Images

“I feel like I skated the whole season well," she said. 

“I went on the ice with the right mindset today. Then also in the women’s relay we did a very good race, but in the last two laps it was just impossible for me to hold off Xandra, she was coming with so much speed.” 

Dutch women bury Olympic disappointment

Boasting the world’s top female sprinter on your team is indeed a useful asset, as the Netherland’s newly crowned world relay champion Zoe Deltrap confirmed. 

“It’s a really good feeling that we have Xandra at the end. It gives us really good trust in the team.” 

But Deltrap said the Olympics also helped drive the quartet to success. 

“We were really sad and disappointed that it didn't happen the way we wanted at the Olympics and we were like, ‘We really want this world title’. After we fell (in the Olympic final) we immediately said we wanted this title.” 

They got it by working tirelessly to put Velzeboer on the shoulder of the Italians with two laps to go. With the tiring Chinese out of the picture — and the Canadians having hit the ice in the closing stages — it was more than enough.
 

Netherlands celebrate their 3000m relay win Saturday at the ISU CNSG Short Track World Championships in Montreal © Getty Images

“It’s really great to become world champion with the girls,” Velzeboer said. “We’ve been working hard and been really strong the whole season. Especially after the Games, we really wanted to show what we got. It was just such a great race, good exchanges and we all did a really great job.” 

It was also a great day for Short Track, with more expected on Sunday. Velzeboer will look to add 500m gold to her Olympic sprint title, while Kim will hope to do the same in the 1500m.