The History and Politics of Short-track Speed Skating

Project Title

The History and Politics of Short-track Speed Skating

Faculty Mentor(s)

Project Description

Short-track speed skating is an incredibly popular and successful sport in South Korea. The country holds 5 out of 11 world records, and didn’t win a medal outside of the speed skating discipline until 2010. However there isn’t a succinct explanation for why. My research aims to answer that question by looking at the history of short-track speed skating’s development both globally and in South Korea, and by looking at its connection to nationalism by looking at events such as Apolo Ohno’s death threats in the 2002 Winter Olympics, Ahn Hyun Soo’s defection to Russia, and child and sexual abuse by coaches in the Korean diaspora.

Why is your research important?

There is little information about short-track speed skating’s general history, especially from sources in English, so I’m hoping that I’m bridging the gap. Research about sports may seem light, but learning about the purpose of a sport in society is an essential way of looking at a culture and interaction with the rest of the world.

What knowledge has your research contributed to your field?

I am currently building a timeline of short-track speed skating’s history, starting from the late 19th century to today. This includes short-track’s debut events, as well as noting significant athletes and key figures who advocated for the event. I am also looking at South Korea’s sport development through the 80s, as they hosted two major sporting events: the 1986 Summer Asian Games and the 1988 Summer Olympics.

In what ways have you showcased your research thus far?

I presented my research at the Oberlin Summer Research Institute Symposium.

How did you get involved in research? What drove you to seek out research experiences in college?

In high school, I wrote a paper called the Cumulative Humanities Project, which was part of the graduation requirement, where I looked at the connection between a piece of literature and a historical event. It was a great introduction to the research process, but when I came to Oberlin, I never considered doing independent research. However, while watching the 2022 Winter Olympics held in Beijing, I became really interested in short-track speed skating and some of the controversies that surrounded it, especially in South Korea. After a couple months of independently gathering sources and later writing a paper for my Literary Journalism class, I applied to OSRI.

How has working with your mentor impacted the development of your research project? How has it impacted you as a researcher?

Dr. John has helped think of new perspectives for how I want to approach concepts in my paper. Talking with her has helped me clear up any anxiety or confusion I’ve had throughout the research process. For the entirety of my research, she has given short-track speed skating the respect that it deserves.

How has the research you’ve conducted contributed to your professional or academic development?

After participating in OSRI, I have started to consider graduate school as an option after Oberlin. I also want to start another research project in the field of sport sociology.

What advice would you give to a younger student wanting to get involved in research in your field?

You don’t necessarily have to be the best student or have the highest grades to become a researcher. If you have an idea, don’t be afraid to reach out to professors or the Office of Undergraduate Research, and they will be more than happy to find opportunities that will best suit you.