- Four-time World Cup halfpipe gold medallist Choi Gaon, who is just 17-years-old, could become the first Korean female athlete to win an Olympic medal in snow sports.
"VAN" (Sports Desk - 09.02.2026) :: Back-to-back Olympic champion Chloe Kim is an idol to millions, and she can also count one as her major rival at Milano Cortina 2026.
That is because Republic of Korea’s teenage snowboarding sensation Choi Gaon is a serious contender for the Olympic halfpipe crown, won by Kim at PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022.
Choi has won three World Cup halfpipe golds this season and could make history at the Livigno Snow Park.
The 17-year-old is aiming to become the first Korean female athlete to win a medal in snow sports, and if she wins gold, it would be her nation’s first in the sport.
“In the US and other countries, snowboard halfpipe is quite well-known, but not in Korea,” she tells Olympics.com.
“I want to introduce this sport more to my country through my performance at this Olympics. I also believe that enjoying the Games is just as important as achieving good results.
“As I see myself as a highly skilled snowboarder, I hope people remember me as a someone who is very good at handling a snowboard. My aim is not only to perform impressive tricks but also to showcase pure snowboarding with very stable skills.”
Cr-MilanoCortina2026
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