The 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics ice dance rhythm dance event proved to be a bittersweet milestone for Korea’s only ice dance duo, Lim Haena and Kwon Ye. Stepping onto the grand ice at Milan’s storied Ice Skating Arena on February 10, 2026, the pair carried the hopes of a nation eager for another breakthrough in figure skating. Yet, despite their best efforts and a program brimming with personality, a costly early error dashed their dreams of advancing to the free dance segment.
Lim, 22, and Kwon, 25, took to the rink as the 12th performers of the day, electrifying the arena with a performance set to Will Smith’s iconic ‘Men in Black.’ Dressed in sleek black costumes, the duo radiated confidence and style, ready to leave their mark on Olympic ice. However, the opening element—the sequential twizzle, a notoriously tricky move requiring perfect unison and balance—proved to be their undoing. Kwon lost his balance during the second rotation, resulting in a stumble that immediately impacted their technical score. For this element, Lim was awarded a level 4, but Kwon’s error meant he did not receive a level, and the duo earned only 2.41 points for the sequence.
The setback was significant, but Lim and Kwon refused to let it define their performance. Regaining their composure, they tackled the next elements with renewed determination. Both the pattern dance type step sequence and the midline step sequence were executed at level 2—a solid recovery under Olympic pressure. Their rotational lift, a signature strength, soared to the highest difficulty at level 4, drawing appreciative applause from the crowd. The program concluded with a choreographic rhythm sequence at level 1, capping off a routine that, despite its flaws, showcased their resilience and artistry.
When the final scores were announced—34.28 for technical elements and 30.41 for program components, totaling 64.69 points—the disappointment was palpable. The result placed them 22nd out of 23 teams, just 0.29 points shy of the 20th-place cutoff for the free dance, narrowly edged out by Spain’s Sofia Val and Asaf Kazimov, who scored 64.98 points. For Lim and Kwon, it was a heartbreaking margin, especially considering their season and personal best was a much higher 76.02 points.
In the kiss and cry zone, the duo’s emotions were on full display. Kwon, visibly disappointed, reflected on the error that had cost them so dearly. Lim, ever the supportive partner, offered words of encouragement. “After the mistake, we looked at each other and said, ‘You can do it! Next element, we’ll do better,’” Lim shared with reporters. “Kwon made a mistake, but I just wanted to tell him, ‘It’s okay.’” Her positivity shone through, adding, “It’s a little disappointing because of the mistake, but I was still so happy. Just being at the Olympics is something I’m incredibly grateful for. To perform here is overwhelming and moving.”
The journey to Milan was itself a testament to the pair’s dedication and cross-cultural partnership. Lim, a second-generation Canadian immigrant with dual Korean-Canadian citizenship, and Kwon, a Chinese-Canadian who switched to representing Korea in 2019 after obtaining special naturalization, united their talents to chase an Olympic dream. Their partnership quickly made waves in Asian competitions, and they set their sights on the 2026 Games as their ultimate goal. Kwon, battling a cold on competition day, admitted, “Maybe it was nerves, but something just felt off.” Despite his cough and the weight of the occasion, he remained grateful for the experience, saying, “The atmosphere was incredible. Even though I made a mistake, I was able to enjoy the rest of the performance.”
Lim echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the thrill of performing before a global audience. “It was amazing to skate in front of so many spectators. We had fun out there, and I hope our feelings reached the fans,” she said. The duo’s Olympic debut, while not yielding the result they’d hoped for, was a moment of pride and inspiration for Korean figure skating. They became only the third Korean ice dance pair to compete at the Olympics, following in the footsteps of Yang Tae-hwa/Lee Chun-gun (Salt Lake City 2002) and Min Yura/Alexander Gamelin (PyeongChang 2018). Their ambition was to surpass Korea’s best Olympic ice dance finish—18th place by Min and Gamelin—but the sport’s unforgiving margins left them just short.
The rhythm dance event itself was fiercely competitive, with the French duo Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier capturing first place with a commanding 90.18 points, positioning themselves for a second consecutive Olympic gold. The top five also included teams from the USA, Canada, Great Britain, and Italy, all delivering performances of the highest caliber. For Lim and Kwon, the event highlighted both the challenge and the beauty of ice dance at the Olympic level—where one misstep can separate dreams from reality.
Earlier in the Games, Lim and Kwon competed in the team event rhythm dance, scoring 70.55 points and ranking 7th out of 10 teams. However, the Korean team did not advance, denying them another shot at the free dance. The pattern repeated in the individual event, leaving the pair unable to debut their free dance program, set to Samuel Barber’s poignant ‘Adagio for Strings.’ Their Olympic campaign thus ended without a free dance performance, a bittersweet outcome for two skaters who had worked tirelessly to reach this stage.
Yet, the legacy of Lim and Kwon’s Olympic appearance extends beyond the scoreboard. Their partnership, forged across borders and cultures, has already inspired a new generation of Korean skaters. Their resilience in the face of adversity, their joy in performance, and their unwavering support for one another stand as a testament to the spirit of the Games.
As the rhythm dance concluded and the world’s best prepared for the upcoming free dance on February 12, Lim Haena and Kwon Ye could take pride in having represented Korea with heart and artistry. Their Olympic story, though marked by disappointment, is one of courage, growth, and hope for the future of Korean ice dance.