Seung-hoon Lee made history as the first South Korean skier to reach the finals of the freestyle skiing halfpipe at the Winter Olympics, but he was forced to withdraw due to a serious injury sustained during practice. On Instagram, he expressed his gratitude to supporters and reflected on his difficulties, including battling a fever and body aches before the competition. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury after a landing mishap during practice, leading him to seek medical attention, which revealed significant damage to his knee.

Lee was eager to showcase his skills and prepared rigorously for the Olympics, striving to compete without regrets. However, the reality of having to forfeit his first Olympic finals was emotionally challenging for him. Despite the disappointment, he highlighted the joy of being part of such a significant event, sharing congratulations to his fellow competitor, who secured a gold medal, and expressing gratitude for increasing recognition of the halfpipe event in South Korea.

The incident marks a pivotal moment for South Korean representational skiing on an international stage as Lee’s participation in the preliminaries had already broken new ground. His scoring of 76 points in the qualifying round was a noteworthy achievement for the nation. Nevertheless, the abrupt end to his competition underscores the unpredictable nature of sports injuries and the challenges athletes face, especially on such a grand scale as the Winter Olympics.