South Korea’s 17-year-old Choi Gaon stunned defending Olympic champion Chloe Kim of the United States to win gold in the women’s snowboard halfpipe final on Thursday at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy.
Choi’s victory marked South Korea’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in any snow sport and remains the nation’s only gold at the ongoing Games.
Her performance drew widespread acclaim, with South Korean media hailing her as the “Golden Teen” and “Miracle Girl”.
President Lee Jae-myung praised her in a statement, saying, “Her performance has written a new chapter in the history of South Korean snowboarding. It deeply resonated not only with South Koreans but with audiences around the world.”
He highlighted her resilience, adding, “Choi did not waver despite a brutal fall that drew gasps from the crowd during her first run. Her fierce determination moved even the Olympic gods.”
The win went viral across South Korea. Choi, a long-time fan of K-pop megastar G-Dragon, has been practising snowboarding since childhood.
A resurfaced video from nine years ago showing all six family members riding together has further captured the public imagination.
Defending champion Chloe Kim, 25, who is hugely popular in South Korea due to her Korean heritage, spoke warmly of her young rival despite the defeat.
“She’s my baby,” Kim said affectionately, acknowledging the emergence of a new star in the sport.
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