‘Already the 4th withdrawal’ Lin Xiaojun, Chinese media “I think I ran out of fuel”

Voices of concern are also emerging in China as Lin Xiaojun (Korean name Lim Hyo-joon) abstains one after another. 

Xiaojun Lin was named to the 1000m and 1500m preliminary list at the 4th competition of the International Skating Union 안전놀이터 (ISU) 2022-2023 Short Track World Cup held in Almaty, Kazakhstan on the 16th (Korean time), but withdrew. 

Lan Xiaojun has repeatedly withdrawn from previous World Cup events, raising concerns. 

Xiaojun Lin withdrew from the individual event following an injury in the mixed 2000m relay at the first round of the ISU World Cup held in October. 

Xiaojun Lin, who also missed the second competition immediately following, reappeared at the Four Continents Championships held in November, but bowed her head as she repeatedly withdrew from the competition. 

The 3rd competition was completed to the end. Lin Xiaojun, who competed in the individual 1500m, men’s 5000m relay, and mixed relay, won the silver medal after Korea in the mixed relay, winning her first medal in China. 

However, Lin Xiaojun disappeared again in the 4th tournament. There is still a possibility of participating in the team event as there are still schedules left, but it will not be easy for him to participate if he is in such a condition as to abstain from the individual event. 

In response, Chinese media also expressed their concerns. The Chinese media ‘Sohu’, which shed light on Lin Xiaojun’s withdrawal, said, “Lin Xiaojun failed to finish 4 times in the 5 competitions held after naturalization in China and only won 1 silver medal.” 

The media said, “Lin Xiaojun is a player with the aura of a world championship and Olympic champion, and has received high expectations from fans at the time of his naturalization, but unfortunately, due to a long period of decline in performance and ability, he has been performing below expectations in recent competitions.” told 

On the other hand, the media also worried about the future of Lin Xiaojun, highlighting that the Chinese relay team won medals without Lin Xiaojun in the last article. Even in the article that day, the media emphasized the story and expressed the uneasy position of Lin Xiaojun in a roundabout way. 

The media said, “It is questionable whether there is fuel left in Lin Xiaojun’s fuel tank. A big question mark has arisen in his future,” he said, worrying about the future of Lin Xiaojun.