South Korean snowboarder Kim Sang-kyum has made history by securing the nation's 400th Olympic medal after reaching the finals in the men's parallel giant slalom at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. At 37 years old, Kim defeated 20-year-old Terbel Zampirov from Bulgaria by a narrow margin of 0.23 seconds in the semifinals. This marks a significant achievement for the athlete, who has been competing in his fourth Olympics.

In a remarkable performance leading up to the finals, Kim caused an upset by eliminating strong contender Roland Fischnaller from Italy in the quarterfinals. He had previously advanced to the quarterfinals after benefiting from a fall by Slovenia's Zan Kranjec during the round of 16. Kim's Olympic journey has seen him place 17th in Sochi, 15th in Pyeongchang, and 24th in Beijing, making his current performance a distinct improvement.

With this victory, South Korea has reached a milestone of 400 Olympic medals, comprising 320 medals from the Summer Olympics and 79 from the Winter Olympics. Kim's achievement is celebrated not just as a personal triumph but also as a historic moment for South Korean sports, solidifying the country's status in the Olympic community as they continue to build on their medal tally.