History was made at Livigno Snowpark in Italy on February 20, 2026, as Lee Seung-hoon of Korea soared into the men’s freestyle skiing halfpipe final at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. With a score of 76.00 points in the qualifying round, Lee not only clinched 10th place out of 25 world-class competitors but also became the first Korean ever to reach the Olympic halfpipe final—a watershed moment for Korean winter sports.
The qualifying event, originally slated for February 19, was postponed by a day due to heavy snowfall blanketing the Italian Alps. The delay didn’t dampen Lee’s focus or determination. When his moment finally arrived, Lee, wearing the Korean flag on his helmet, delivered a performance that electrified the small but passionate group of Korean supporters in the stands and made waves back home.
Freestyle skiing halfpipe, an Olympic discipline since Sochi 2014, challenges athletes to execute aerial tricks on a giant, U-shaped slope. Judges score each run based on height, technical difficulty, variety, linking of tricks, and overall stability. It’s a sport that demands both nerves of steel and creative flair—qualities that Lee Seung-hoon has honed over years of international competition.
Lee’s path to the final was anything but routine. As the 13th athlete to take to the pipe in the first run, he executed a flawless sequence of five tricks, highlighted by a cleanly landed Indy Double Cork 1440—a dizzying four-spin maneuver that left the judges and crowd in awe. That first run earned him 76.00 points, placing him 8th at the time. In the second run, Lee went for broke, attempting the even more difficult Indy Double Cork 1880, which involves five full rotations. Although he slipped on the landing, the attempt demonstrated his willingness to push boundaries, even with a solid score already in hand. With only the best of two runs counting, his first score stood, and as the competition wrapped up, he secured 10th overall—comfortably inside the top 12 who advance to the final.
"Lee Seung-hoon is the first Korean to advance to the Olympic halfpipe final," reported Olympics.com. The achievement is all the more impressive considering Lee’s Olympic journey. Four years ago at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, he finished 16th in qualifying, missing out on the final. Since then, he has steadily built a résumé that reads like a timeline of Korean freestyle skiing’s coming of age. Lee won a silver medal at the 2021 FIS Junior World Championships, a bronze at the 2024 Freeski World Cup in Calgary—making him the first Korean to medal at a World Cup in this discipline—and a historic gold at the 2025 Harbin Winter Asian Games, the first ever by a Korean in freestyle halfpipe.
“His path is the history of Korean freestyle skiing,” wrote Sports Chosun, highlighting how Lee, who first donned the national colors at just 14 years old, has blazed a trail for future generations. His run in Livigno is not just a personal triumph but a beacon for Korean winter athletes dreaming of the world stage.
Fellow Korean competitor Moon Hee-sung also took part in the qualifying round, but his Olympic debut was hampered by a lingering tailbone injury. Moon managed a top score of 35.00 points, placing 22nd and missing out on the final. Despite the setback, his presence in the field alongside Lee is a testament to the growing strength and depth of Korea’s freestyle skiing program. As Yonhap News noted, "Moon Hee-sung finished 22nd and did not advance to the final." Both athletes represent Korea National Sport University, a hub for nurturing the nation’s next generation of winter sports talent.
The qualifying round was fiercely competitive, with Canada’s Brendan Mackay topping the leaderboard at 92.75 points, followed by strong showings from the United States and Estonia. Yet, Lee’s 10th-place finish placed him among a select group of the world’s best, including established stars like Nick Goepper (USA) and Henry Sildaru (EST). The final, set for 3:30 AM Korean Standard Time on February 21, promises to be a thrilling showdown with Lee aiming to capture Korea’s first-ever Olympic medal in the event.
Lee’s technical prowess was on full display in Livigno. According to Olympics.com, "Lee Seung-hoon successfully landed a difficult trick called 'Indy Double Cork 1440' (four spins) in the first run, scoring 76 points." His second run, an ambitious attempt at the Indy Double Cork 1880, didn’t pan out, but it sent a clear message: Lee is not content to simply make up the numbers. He’s here to challenge for the podium.
The halfpipe event itself is a spectacle of athleticism and artistry. Athletes launch themselves several meters above the lip of the pipe, twisting and flipping in midair before landing—ideally—cleanly on the steep walls. Lee’s jumps reached a maximum height of 3.6 meters, with an average height of 2.8 meters, reflecting both his technical skill and his confidence on the big stage.
Weather has played a recurring role at these Games, and the postponement of the qualifying round due to heavy snow added an extra layer of uncertainty. Yet, Lee’s ability to adapt and deliver under pressure speaks volumes about his preparation and mental resilience. As Yonhap News reported, "The qualifying event was postponed from February 19 to February 20 due to heavy snowfall." Even the elements couldn’t slow Korea’s rising freestyle star.
Lee’s journey to this point has been defined by firsts. He was the first Korean to reach a World Cup podium in freestyle skiing, the first to win Asian Games gold in the halfpipe, and now, the first to reach an Olympic final in the discipline. Each milestone has inspired a new generation of Korean skiers and snowboarders, many of whom watched as Lee’s compatriot Choi Ga-on claimed Korea’s first-ever snow event gold in women’s snowboard earlier at these Games.
As the clock ticks down to the final, anticipation is building both in Italy and across Korea. Lee Seung-hoon stands on the brink of another breakthrough, with a shot at Olympic glory within reach. Whether or not he reaches the podium, his place in Korean sports history is already secure. But as any athlete will tell you, once you’re in the final, anything can happen. With his trademark blend of courage and creativity, Lee Seung-hoon will take to the halfpipe one more time—chasing not just a medal, but a dream that now feels closer than ever.
The men’s freestyle skiing halfpipe final is set for the early hours of February 21 in Korea. All eyes will be on Livigno to see if Lee Seung-hoon can add one more historic chapter to his remarkable Olympic journey.