What are the World Short Track Championships?
Short track's annual world titles, contested under ISU championship status since 1981. Nine events are held — 500, 1000 and 1500 m for men and women, the men's 5000 m relay, the women's 3000 m relay and the 2000 m mixed team relay — raced as pack heats with repechages, quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals. Unlike the long-track championship, it is held every year, including Olympic years.[1] [2]
| Season | Pool / Format | Host cities |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Korea 4 golds — Kim Gil-li and Rim Jong-un doubles | Montreal (CAN) — 50th championships |
| 2025 | Canada 6 golds — Steven Dubois 500 m + 1000 m | Beijing (CHN) |
| 2024 | China 4 golds | Rotterdam (NED) |
| 2023 | Netherlands 5 golds; Park Ji-won 1000 m + 1500 m | Seoul (KOR) |
| 2027 | — scheduled | Seoul (KOR) |
Recent editions — leading nation and headline results.
How do skaters qualify?
Every eligible member federation may enter at least one skater per distance per sex; additional places up to three per distance are pre-allocated from standings on the ISU Short Track World Tour, the renamed World Cup. A federation entering a relay may field a maximum of five skaters in total. Qualifying times over 500 m apply to nations entering more than one skater.[2] [3]
What changed in 2023?
The overall classification disappeared. Until 2022 the championships crowned an overall world champion on points across the distances, decided by a 3000 m super-final; both the super-final and the overall title were abolished after that edition. Since 2023 there is no overall short track world champion — only the nine event titles.[2] [4]
Who wins?
South Korea, by a distance — 117 world championship golds, ahead of Canada on 73, China on 69 and the Netherlands on 26. At the 50th championships in Montreal in March 2026, Korea took four golds through Kim Gil-li and Rim Jong-un, each doubling the 1000 and 1500 m, with Canada, the Netherlands and Italy sharing the rest.[1] [4]
References
- ISU — Short Track. Accessed August 2026.
- ISU — Special Regulations & Technical Rules, Short Track. Accessed August 2026.
- ISU — Short Track World Tour and entry communications. Accessed August 2026.
- ISU — 2026/27 season calendar. Accessed August 2026.