The article highlights the anticipation surrounding South Korean skater Cha Jun-hwan as he gets ready to compete in the free skating event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. After a successful short program where he scored 92.72 points, Cha has advanced to the free skating portion, hoping to achieve a historic first podium finish for South Korea in men's figure skating. His previous Olympic performances, including a 15th place finish in PyeongChang followed by a 5th place finish in Beijing, demonstrate his significant growth and potential for success this time around.

Cha has opted to compete with a new program, 'Ballad for the Blind,' after initially preparing a piece from the 'Moulin Rouge' soundtrack. This strategic change is indicative of his effort to showcase his skills more effectively. He faces stiff competition, particularly from France's Adam Shao Yingfa, who leads Cha by 9.83 points after the short program. Despite earlier promising performances that included multiple quads, Cha is expected to stick to a solid yet calculated routine, focusing on the execution of his planned elements while aiming to elevate the overall quality of his performance.

On the same day, fellow South Korean snowboarder Lee Chae-woon is set to compete in the men's halfpipe finals, aiming to make a significant impact after failing to advance past the qualifiers in Beijing. He qualified for the finals after scoring 82 points, which placed him 9th overall. Lee's key move will be a challenging 1620-degree rotation. If he successfully lands this move, it could mark a notable achievement in his Olympic journey, following an earlier experience of falling short in his last Olympic attempt. Both athletes symbolize the growing presence of South Korea in winter sports, making their Olympic performances a focal point of national pride and competitive spirit.