The 'Lambor-Gilli' of the ice rink
If you thought that pure elegance can only be found on the dance floor, then you haven't watched the Winter Olympics in Milan over the past few days. In the Milano Speed Skating Stadium on February 16, 2026, we saw something that touched me deeply as a dancer. Gilli Kim, the 22-year-old South Korean sensation, skated to a hard-fought bronze medal in the 1000 meters short track. But it wasn't just that medal that got people talking; it was the way she moved. In the dance world, we call that 'flow', and Gilli has it in her fibers.
The final was a tactical duel that even the most experienced choreographer could learn something from. Kim started at the back, waited patiently for her moment, and sliced through the corners with a precision that reminded me of a perfectly executed double spin in salsa. She finished in 1:28.614, just behind the Dutch Xandra Velzeboer (gold) and the Canadian Courtney Sarault (silver). Although tears flowed for Kim after the finish, from my 30 years of experience, I saw something very different: an athlete dancing on ice.
From pointe shoes to skates
What many people don't know, and what makes her style so recognizable to us in the dance world, is that Gilli Kim actually wanted to become a figure skater. As a little girl, she was inspired by the legendary Kim Yuna. Because there were no figure skating lessons available in her neighborhood at the time, she ended up in short track. You can see that background in everything. Where other short trackers often use power and brute speed, Gilli uses her entire body as an instrument. Her weight transfer in the corners is pure technique, comparable to the way we at Miss Salsa use the core to maintain balance during fast footwork sections.
In an interview with the ISU, she previously stated that her philosophy is simple: "Effort will never betray you." That is a mentality we also preach in the dance school. You see that discipline reflected in her recovery; earlier this week she collided hard with the Dutch Michelle Velzeboer, but she got up, regained her rhythm, and simply qualified for the final.
Dutch fireworks on the ice
Of course, as Dutch people, we cannot ignore the performances of our own top athletes. While Gilli Kim stole hearts with her graceful style, Femke Kok showed what pure power means. She crushed the Olympic record on the skating rink with a time of 36.49, leaving even Jutta Leerdam behind. It is that combination of different disciplines—the power of Kok and the fluidity of Kim—that makes these Games so fascinating.
The British also provided a goosebump moment that seemed straight out of a dance performance. In pairs figure skating, they performed a routine to the tones of the Bolero. With a score of 75.46, they showed that classical musicality still knows how to find its way to the hearts of the jury (and the audience). It is beautiful to see how music and movement merge on this world stage, whether it's on the 1000 meters short track or in an ice dance arena.
What we as dancers learn from this
You might wonder what a short track skater has to do with your weekly salsa or bachata lessons. Actually everything. Take a look at Gilli Kim's 'lean' in the corners. She relies completely on her balance and her connection to the surface. In salsa, we call that grounding. Without that stability in your ankles and your core, you fall over as soon as the speed increases.
Additionally, there is resilience. Gilli fell several times during these Games due to collisions with others, but she didn't let it discourage her. In practice, this means for us: even if you miss a step or get out of rhythm, you keep moving. The show doesn't stop at a stumble. Gilli Kim showed that bronze sometimes shines just as much as gold when you achieve it with such style and perseverance.
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan show that sport and art are not separate worlds. Gilli Kim is the living proof of that. Her bronze medal on February 16 is a reminder that technique is the foundation, but it is the artistry that makes you unforgettable. We will continue to follow her, because at Miss Salsa we know: whoever can dance on ice can take on the whole world.