On a brisk February day at Livigno Snowpark in Italy, the world watched as Lee Chaeun, a 19-year-old snowboarder from Kyung Hee University, carved his name into the annals of Korean winter sports history. Competing in the men’s snowboard halfpipe final at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, Lee delivered a performance that was as dramatic as it was groundbreaking, ultimately finishing 6th with a score of 87.50 points. Though he missed the podium, Lee’s run was a watershed moment for Korean snowboarding, marked by world-firsts and a display of resilience that captivated fans across the globe.
Lee’s journey to the Olympic final was anything but straightforward. Two days prior, he had qualified for the final by placing 9th in the heats with a score of 82.00, securing his spot among the world’s twelve best halfpipe riders. This achievement alone was historic—never before had a Korean male snowboarder advanced to the Olympic halfpipe final, surpassing the previous bests of 26th in Vancouver 2010 and 14th in PyeongChang 2018.
As the final began, tension was high. Lee’s first run started with promise as he smoothly executed a switch backside double cork 1260 and a cap double cork 1440. But then came the moment everyone was waiting for: his signature trick, the frontside triple cork 1620—a dizzying four and a half rotations. Lee went for it, but the landing eluded him, and he tumbled to the snow, earning just 24.75 points and sitting 9th after the first run. The second run proved no easier. Although Lee landed a switch backside double cork 1080 and a backside double cork 1260, a misstep on the frontside double cork 1440 meant another 24.75 and no improvement in his ranking.
With two disappointing runs behind him, Lee faced an uphill battle. In a poignant moment before his final attempt, he exchanged words with his father, who offered a simple but powerful message: "You can do it." Bolstered by this encouragement, Lee gathered himself for his third and final run, knowing he had nothing left to lose and everything to gain.
What came next was nothing short of electric. Lee launched into a sequence that included a switch backside double cork 1260, cap double cork 1440, frontside triple cork 1620, backside double cork 1260, and another frontside double cork 1440. This time, he landed the triple cork 1620 cleanly—the first time anyone in the world had done so in Olympic competition, according to reports. As he completed his run and waited for his score, Lee was visibly emotional, clasping his hands in prayer and fighting back tears. The judges awarded him 87.50 points, briefly vaulting him to 5th place. But as the final results rolled in, Australia’s Valentino Guseli edged him out with an 88.00, leaving Lee in 6th overall.
Despite falling just short of the medals, Lee’s performance was a triumph. Not only did he set a new benchmark for Korean snowboarders on the Olympic stage, but he also raised the technical bar for the sport itself. "I worked so hard I felt like I was bleeding tears, but I realized again just how high the world’s wall is," Lee reflected after the competition. "I really gave it my all this time, but what I prepared just wasn’t enough—it was only enough for me. For the next Olympics, I’ll train like my life depends on it."
The emotional rollercoaster of the final was evident in Lee’s reactions. As he greeted teammates and officials after his run, tears streamed down his face—a mix of pride, relief, and disappointment. In the mixed zone, he admitted, "I expected around 92 or 92.5 points for my third run. It just felt like I was lacking." Still, he found consolation in his historic achievement: "Just being the first to land the triple cork 1620 makes me proud. I’m disappointed, but I also feel relieved."
Lee’s display didn’t go unnoticed by his peers. American snowboarder Jake Pates was among the first to offer comfort, telling Lee, "You should be number one. You’re number one in my heart." The camaraderie among competitors underscored the respect Lee had earned on the world stage. As Lee himself put it, "After landing the final trick, I felt like I’d overcome all the pressure. Jake Pates telling me I was his number one really helped me feel better."
Lee’s rise has been rapid but not without setbacks. At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, he was the youngest member of the Korean team at just 16, but he failed to advance past the qualifiers, finishing 18th. Redemption came in 2023 when, at 16 years and 10 months old, he became the youngest ever men’s halfpipe world champion. However, a left knee meniscus surgery last year led to a slump, forcing Lee to battle through both physical and mental hurdles to return to the sport’s biggest stage. His resilience paid off in Milan-Cortina, as he not only reached the final but also made history with his technical prowess.
The men’s halfpipe final was fiercely competitive, with four athletes scoring over 90 points. Japan’s Yuto Totsuka claimed gold with a dominant 95.00, Australia’s Scotty James took silver at 93.50, and Japan’s Ryusei Yamada captured bronze with 92.00. Defending Olympic champion Ayumu Hirano of Japan finished 7th with 86.50, highlighting the event’s stacked field. For Japan, Totsuka’s victory marked a second consecutive Olympic gold for the nation in this event, following Hirano’s win in Beijing.
For Lee Chaeun, the journey is far from over. Born in April 2006, he remains under 20 and is already eyeing future Olympic podiums. "I worked so hard for this Olympics, but maybe it was only enough for me. If sweat and tears aren’t enough, I’ll give blood, sweat, and tears," Lee vowed. "Next time, I’ll train as if I’m dead. I want to stand on the highest step of the podium."
As the sun set on Livigno Snowpark and the world’s attention shifted, Lee Chaeun’s performance resonated as a beacon of possibility for Korean snowboarding. He may not have left Italy with a medal, but he leaves with something just as valuable—a place in history, a world-first, and the promise of even greater things to come.