History was made in the chill of Livigno Snowpark, Italy, as 17-year-old Choi Gaon soared to an extraordinary gold in the women’s snowboard halfpipe at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. On February 13, 2026, the Korean teenager delivered a performance for the ages, clinching the first-ever Olympic gold for Korea in any ski or snowboard event—a feat that left fans, teammates, and even her idols in awe.
The final was anything but straightforward for Choi. After a harrowing start, she emerged as a symbol of tenacity and composure under pressure. Her journey to the top was filled with drama, setbacks, and, ultimately, a breathtaking comeback that will be talked about for years to come.
Choi Gaon’s opening run was a nerve-wracking affair. Attempting a daring triple 1080—a trick that had haunted her with a back injury just two years prior—she crashed hard after the second jump, her board catching the lip of the halfpipe. The fall was so severe that she lay motionless for a moment, prompting medical staff to rush onto the course. For a tense interval, the scoreboard even flashed a DNS (Did Not Start) beside her name, as fears of injury and withdrawal gripped the crowd.
Yet, Choi would not be deterred. Despite the pain and the memory of her previous injury, she picked herself up and returned for the second run. But fate seemed against her once more—she lost balance and fell again, failing to secure a score. After two runs, Choi’s tally was a mere 10 points, placing her 11th out of 12 finalists. The gold seemed out of reach.
Meanwhile, American superstar Chloe Kim, the reigning Olympic champion and Choi’s childhood idol, had set the bar sky-high. Kim nailed a jaw-dropping cap double cork 1080 in her first run, earning 88.00 points and taking a commanding lead. With her sights set on a historic third consecutive Olympic gold, Kim looked poised to etch her name further into snowboarding lore.
But the final run would flip the script. With snow falling and the pressure mounting, Choi recalibrated her approach. She set aside the high-risk triple 1080 and instead focused on a series of technically demanding, yet stable, tricks: switch back mute 900s, cap 720s, frontside and backside 900s, and frontside 720s, all executed with precision, amplitude, and style. Every grab was crisp, every landing solid. The crowd held its breath as she completed her run without a single slip.
When the judges revealed her score—90.25—the arena erupted. Choi had vaulted from near the bottom of the standings to the very top, overtaking Kim and seizing the gold. Tears flowed freely as the realization set in: she had not only won Korea’s first snow sports gold, but had also become the youngest ever Olympic champion in this event at 17 years and 3 months, breaking Chloe Kim’s own record from Pyeongchang 2018.
Reflecting on her victory, Choi told Olympics.com, "I’m so happy that my first Olympic medal is a gold. I still can’t believe it." She added, "Chloe has been my idol since I was little. Even after I fell, she comforted me a lot. I’m happy I won, but I’m even happier that we competed together." Her words underscored the mutual respect and camaraderie that defined this unforgettable contest.
Kim, for her part, attempted to reclaim the lead in her final run but fell midway, dashing her hopes for a three-peat and settling for the silver. Japan’s Ono Mitsuki rounded out the podium with a solid 85.00 points to take bronze, while the rest of the field could only look on in admiration at the high-flying heroics on display.
Choi’s gold capped an already impressive showing by the Korean team at these Games. While Lee Sang-ho had previously captured Korea’s first-ever Olympic snowboard medal—a silver in men’s alpine at Pyeongchang 2018—gold had remained elusive. This time, the medal haul expanded: Kim Sang-gyeom secured silver in men’s snowboard alpine, and Yoo Seung-eun took bronze in women’s big air. But it was Choi Gaon who finally climbed to the top step of the podium, delivering a golden breakthrough that had seemed almost impossible just a few years ago.
“Korea doesn’t really know much about snowboarding, so I always felt a bit sad about that,” Choi said. “But now, after winning gold, I think Korea will get to know snowboarding better. I’m really happy about that.” Her triumph is already sparking new interest and pride in a sport that’s often flown under the radar in her home country.
Choi’s journey to Olympic glory was paved with hard work, resilience, and a bit of fate. Born in November 2008, she had only recently recovered from a serious back injury sustained at the 2024 Laax World Cup. Her rapid return to form and her fearless approach in Livigno have made her a beacon of inspiration for young athletes everywhere.
Looking back at Korean women’s snowboard history, the path has not been easy. Kwon Seon-woo was the first Korean woman to compete in Olympic halfpipe at Pyeongchang 2018, and Lee Na-yoon represented Korea at Beijing 2022, though neither advanced to the finals. Choi’s gold represents a quantum leap forward, and her achievement is sure to inspire a new generation of Korean snowboarders eager to carve their own history.
The official results from the women’s snowboard halfpipe final at Milano-Cortina 2026 tell the story: Choi Gaon (KOR) gold with 90.25, Chloe Kim (USA) silver with 88.00, and Ono Mitsuki (JPN) bronze with 85.00. The rest of the field, including strong contenders from Japan, China, the USA, Spain, and Canada, could only marvel at Choi’s resilience and skill.
As the snow settles in Livigno, Choi Gaon’s golden moment stands as a testament to the power of perseverance and the thrill of Olympic sport. Whether you’re a seasoned snowboard fan or just discovering the sport, her story is one that will resonate far beyond the mountains of Italy.