It was a chilly February morning in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, but the atmosphere inside the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium was anything but cold as the South Korean women’s curling team—affectionately known as “5G”—stepped onto the ice for their much-anticipated opening match of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Ranked third in the world and carrying the weight of medal expectations, the squad—skip Kim Eun-ji, third Kim Min-ji, second Kim Su-ji, lead Seol Ye-eun, and alternate Seol Ye-ji—faced off against the United States in the first round-robin clash.
The stakes were high, and the energy was palpable. South Korea’s curling fans, still reminiscing about the silver-medal run in Pyeongchang eight years ago, were eager to see if this new generation could deliver another podium finish. The “5G” moniker, a playful nod to the fact that every member’s name ends in “ji,” had already become a rallying cry for supporters back home and a symbol of unity for the team itself.
The match began with a tactical maneuver. Korea employed the classic "blank end" strategy in the first end, intentionally keeping the scoreboard at 0-0 while using the opportunity to read the ice. This opening gambit set the tone for a calculated, high-stakes duel. According to local analysts, the Cortina ice is notorious for its subtle shifts in speed and curl, demanding quick adaptation from even the most seasoned curlers. As one commentator observed, “The U.S. had a slightly better grasp of the ice conditions than Korea early on.”
Korea quickly found their rhythm in the second end, executing a hit-and-stay to claim the first point. The momentum continued in the third end, where Korea stole a point—scoring without the last-stone advantage—to jump ahead 2-0. The early lead was a promising sign for a team that had dominated the 2023–2024 season, winning both the Pan-Continental Championships and a Grand Slam event, not to mention their undefeated gold at the Harbin Asian Winter Games just the year before. Their recent third- and fourth-place finishes at the World Championships had further cemented their reputation as a force to be reckoned with on the global stage.
But as curling fans know all too well, fortunes can turn on a dime. In the fourth end, the Americans struck back, capitalizing on Korea’s slight miscalculations to score two and tie the game at 2-2. The tension was mounting. The fifth and sixth ends saw the U.S. edge ahead, with Korea conceding another point in the sixth, trailing 2-3. By the seventh end, the pressure was on. Korea, now behind but holding the coveted last-stone advantage, looked to skip Kim Eun-ji for a clutch performance. Unfortunately, her final stone missed the button, and the U.S. pounced, stealing two crucial points to make it 2-5.
Even so, the 5G team refused to wilt. In the eighth end, Kim Eun-ji delivered under pressure, guiding her stone to the center and picking up two points. Suddenly, it was a one-point game at 4-5, and the Korean bench erupted in cheers. The team’s positive attitude was evident throughout, with their rallying cry, “Have fun!” echoing across the ice. “No matter the score, they kept smiling and supporting each other,” noted a rinkside observer.
The ninth end saw a bit of magic from U.S. skip Tabitha Peterson, who threaded her stone between two guards to knock out Korea’s lead rock. It could have been a disaster for Korea, but Kim Eun-ji’s defensive play limited the damage to just a single point. Heading into the final end, the scoreboard read 4-6—still within striking distance, but Korea needed a big finish.
As the tenth end unfolded, the tension was thick enough to cut with a broom. Kim Eun-ji attempted a daring double takeout with her seventh stone, momentarily setting up a scenario where a comeback seemed possible. But Peterson responded with laser precision, removing one of Korea’s key stones and shifting the momentum back to the Americans. With one last shot, Kim Eun-ji went for the double takeout again, but her stone sailed just wide. The U.S. added two more points, sealing Korea’s fate at 4-8.
For a team that had been pegged as a medal contender, the loss was a bitter pill. Yet, as one broadcaster pointed out, “It’s far too early to be disappointed. The round-robin format means there are plenty of matches left, and one loss doesn’t end the dream.” Indeed, with ten teams in the field and only the top four advancing to the semifinals, every point and every end matters. Korea’s next challenge comes swiftly: a second-round matchup against host Italy, scheduled for the morning of February 13 at 3:05 AM KST. With powerhouses Switzerland, Sweden, and Canada lurking later in the schedule, a strong early showing is critical for Korea’s semifinal hopes.
Despite the setback, the 5G squad’s resilience and camaraderie shone through. The team’s journey to the Olympics had been marked by years of steady improvement, hard-fought victories, and a shared determination to surpass the legacy of “Team Kim,” whose silver medal in 2018 sparked a curling craze across Korea. The current roster’s chemistry was on full display, as they huddled after the match, exchanging encouragement and vowing to learn from their mistakes.
The broader context of Korea’s curling ambitions adds another layer to the story. The mixed doubles team of Kim Sun-young and Jung Young-seok had recently finished ninth in their Olympic event, missing the semifinals with a 3-6 record. That result only heightened the pressure on the women’s team to bring home Korea’s first Olympic curling medal in eight years.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as the round-robin continues. For now, the message from the Korean camp is clear: the journey is far from over. “We’ll erase the disappointment from the first game and focus on what’s ahead,” Kim Eun-ji told reporters. “We know what we’re capable of, and we’re determined to show it.”
With the Olympic curling tournament just getting underway, the 5G team’s quest for redemption and a spot on the podium remains alive. Their next match against Italy is just hours away—a chance to regroup, reset, and reignite their medal hopes in front of a global audience. The world will be watching to see if Korea’s curling stars can bounce back and keep their Olympic dreams alive.