Lee Hae-in, a South Korean figure skater, made a significant impact at her first Olympic Games, finishing in 8th place during the women's single free skating event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Competing on February 20 in Italy, Lee scored a total of 140.49 points, which included a technical score of 74.15 and a program component score of 66.34. This performance surpassed her previous season's best, underlining her growth and composure on one of the biggest international stages for winter sports.

During her routine, which was set to Georges Bizet's opera 'Carmen', Lee executed a series of challenging triple jumps and spins, including a double axel-triple toe combination and a series of level 4 spins. She further impressed the audience with her flawless execution of required elements and the combination jumps, managing to secure a significant 10% bonus on later attempts. Her joyful demeanor, culminating in a smile and a heart gesture towards the audience after her routine, reflected her satisfaction with her achievement and the support from the crowd.

In addition to Lee's performance, fellow skater Shin Ji-a, who also competed, finished in 11th place with a total score of 141.02 points. The event concluded with the gold medal going to American skater Alysa Liu, while Japanese competitors Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai took home silver and bronze, respectively. Lee Hae-in's successful Olympic debut signals a positive future for her skating career and a source of national pride for South Korea in the realm of figure skating.