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Ada Li

Joey Lam Ching-yan’s Winter Olympics dream hangs in the balance despite the Hong Kong short-track speed skater having qualified for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Games in February.
A last-minute change to the International Skating Union (ISU) quota allocation, which only hit women’s races, has left her just outside the qualifying list.
The 19-year-old ranked 35th in the Special Olympic Qualifying Classification (SOQC) for the women’s 1,500 metres, based on her top three results from four World Cup events this year.
Hong Kong Olympian Sidney Chu, who represented the city at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, expressed his “extreme disappointment” with the ISU’s decision on social media, describing it as a blow to both fairness and transparency in the qualification process.
Under the ISU’s published qualification system, the top 36 skaters in women’s 1,500m secure Olympic starting places, which initially guaranteed Lam a spot at next February’s Games.












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However, the ISU confirmed earlier this month that the International Olympic Committee’s overall quota cap of 112 short-track athletes across both men’s, women’s and mixed events had been reached.
To stay within the limit, the ISU reduced the women’s 1,500m field from 36 to 33 skaters, cutting Lam from the final entry list released on December 10.
“I respect the complexity of managing Olympic quotas and the absolute limit of 112 athletes,” Chu posted on his Instagram page.
“However, it is deeply concerning that this adjustment resulted in a gender imbalance – not by one quota, but by three. When only female athletes are affected, explanations rooted in relay structure or generalised safety concerns feel arbitrary and difficult to reconcile with the decision.”
However, there is still a glimmer of hope for Lam.
Team Great Britain has announced that Niall Treacy will be its only short-track representative at the Games, effectively giving up two of its previously allocated places.
If those slots are redistributed, Lam could potentially regain her position when the ISU confirms the updated quotas in mid-January, just weeks before the Games’ opening ceremony on February 6.
Chu added that such decisions send a worrying message to athletes from emerging skating regions, who struggle with limited resources and fewer opportunities.
“These athletes already face limited resources and narrower pathways to qualification. When they earn their place through the established system, only to see that opportunity removed afterwards, it undermines confidence in the fairness and transparency of the process and risks discouraging future generations from pursuing the sport at the highest level.”
Chu, who has known Lam for over a decade, offered his support, describing her as “a role model to many kids in Hong Kong”, and praised her commitment.
“I know the sacrifice and dedication that she put into her craft. I am certain she would have made an excellent winter Olympian and would have done a much better job than I did four years ago,” he wrote.
“Joey Lam earned her ranking in the women’s 1500m through years of dedication, resilience and belief in that [qualification] system.
“Decisions like this do not just affect one athlete; they shape the future of the sport. I stand firmly in support of Joey Lam and all female athletes who deserve equitable treatment, clarity and a genuine opportunity to pursue their Olympic dream.”
Neither Lam nor the Hong Kong Skating Union were willing to comment.
The Milano-Cortina 2026 Games will feature nine short-track speedskating events: men’s and women’s 500m, 1000m and 1500m, the men’s 5000m relay, women’s 3000m relay and the mixed team relay.


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Short-track speed skater Joey Lam qualified for women’s 1,500m, but last-minute change to quota allocation leaves hopes in tatters


Short-track speed skater Joey Lam qualified for women’s 1,500m, but last-minute change to quota allocation leaves hopes in tatters.


2026 Winter Olympics: ISU bosses leave speed skater Lam’s Milan dream hanging by a thread

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Short-track speed skater Joey Lam qualified for women’s 1,500m, but last-minute change to quota allocation leaves hopes in tatters

Short-track speed skater Joey Lam qualified for women’s 1,500m, but last-minute change to quota allocation leaves hopes in tatters