Lim Hyo-jun will compete for China after switching allegiance ©Getty Images

Pyeongchang 2018 1,500 metres short track speed skating gold medallist Lim Hyo-jun is set to skate for China, after being named to the national squad.

Lim, who won South Korea's first gold of the 2018 Winter Olympics, wanted to switch allegiance to China before the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

The 26-year-old pulled down a team-mate’s trousers in June 2019, leaving him exposed in front of female competitors, and was banned for a year as a consequence, which prompted Lim to make the switch.

The 2019 overall world champion was also found guilty of sexual harassment before the verdict was overturned on appeal.

Lim tried to gain Chinese citizenship before Beijing 2022 but the International Skating Union did not clear the switch until this July.

Lim Hyo-jun won 1,500m short track speed skating gold at Pyeongchang 2018 for South Korea ©Getty Images
Lim Hyo-jun won 1,500m short track speed skating gold at Pyeongchang 2018 for South Korea ©Getty Images

Lin Xiaojun is his Chinese name.

Ahn Hyun-soo, who is also from South Korea, switched to Russia after not making the cut for the 2010 Olympic team despite winning three Olympic gold medals at Torino 2006.

He went on to win three more for the host nation at the infamous Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.

His Russian name is Viktor Ahn.

Two-time Olympic champion Wu Dajing and Fan Kexin, who won gold along with Wu in the 2,000m mixed relay in Beijing has been left out.

Meanwhile, Beijing 2022 500m champion Gao Tingyu has decided to sit out during the 2022-2023 season, hoping to recover from injuries in time for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games.