Choi Ga-on, an 18-year-old athlete from Sehwa High School, showcased her unwavering determination by winning a gold medal in the women’s snowboard halfpipe at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. Her performance has been recognized as one of the highlights of the early Olympics, ranking second among the best seven moments curated by The Athletic, a leading American sports media outlet. The Olympics, which commenced on February 7, are currently approaching their conclusion, slated to finish on February 23.

The competition was particularly dramatic as Choi Ga-on faced off against American Chloe Kim, who was a strong contender aiming for a consecutive Olympic gold. Kim led the competition with an initial score of 88.00 points in the second round, seemingly set to win. However, Choi’s outstanding skills shone through as she earned a score of 90.25, taking the lead after Kim's fall during the third round, illustrating a thrilling upset that captivated spectators.

The Athletic not only highlighted this competition but also pointed out other significant moments from the Olympics, such as the unexpected failure of Ilya Malinin in men's figure skating, who was considered a strong favorite but ended up in eighth place due to mistakes during the free skate. Other stories covered included injuries of renowned skier Lindsey Vonn and humorous incidents like ski jumpers using performance-enhancing injections, along with personal revelations from biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid, demonstrating the varied drama and stories emerging from the ongoing Winter Olympics.