Choi Gaon (17, Sehwa Girls' High School), who won the women's snowboard halfpipe at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics to claim Korea's first-ever gold medal in a snow event, ran first to her father, Choi In-young, after the medal ceremony. The daughter hung the gold medal around her father's neck and bowed her head. When she said, "I'm sorry," the father replied, "I'm even more sorry."
Choi led his daughter to start snowboarding when she was seven. The family of parents and four siblings, all of whom enjoyed boarding, was even featured on TV as a "snowboard family." Choi Gaon grew up on the snow with her entire family.
Though not a former professional athlete, Choi had a deep understanding and affection for the halfpipe, and during school breaks personally took her to the slopes to teach her by repeating the basics. Rather than pushing for results, the approach prioritized fun and fundamentals.
Not only Choi Gaon but also many global sports stars have been supported by their parents' educational philosophy. Coach Son Woong-jung, who raised South Korean soccer icon Son Heung-min, is a prime example.
After retiring as a player, Coach Son took charge of his son's training and emphasized a "10-year fundamentals principle." He placed the highest value on perfecting ball control over game appearances or results. In elementary and middle school, Son Heung-min focused more on repeating basic movements—ball juggling, short passes, and precise trapping—than on entering tournaments.
In particular, ambipedal ability was what Coach Son valued most. To narrow the gap between the right and left feet, they reportedly continued training hundreds of times a day. His tenet was that physical training must be built on top of fundamentals.
Character education through reading was also carried out in parallel. It is cited as a background for Son Heung-min establishing himself in Europe as a forward who freely uses both feet.
Figure skating "queen" Kim Yuna's mother, Park Mi-hee, also recognized her daughter's talent early and worked to create a training environment. She accompanied her to early morning practices and supported overseas training, helping her find psychological stability. She is credited with putting as much effort into mental management as into honing technique.
Lee Kang-in's case, shaped on the Spanish stage, is similar. In 2011, his family moved to Spain for his playing career. His father, a former taekwondo instructor, changed jobs to support him. From the age of five, Lee Kang-in built his base fitness by doing jump rope, baseball, and taekwondo in parallel. The program considered growth plate stimulation and improvements in agility and concentration.
His mother had him keep a "soccer diary" every day so he could analyze his performance on his own. Park Ji-sung, nicknamed the "oxygen tank," is also famous for the anecdote that he consistently kept a soccer diary in his youth.
Golfer Song Jia's mother, Park Yeon-su, also spared no effort in providing both material and emotional support for her daughter's bid to turn pro. She helped with travel according to training and tournament schedules and provided psychological support even during slumps. It is said she even sold household items secondhand and canceled health insurance to raise expense for training camps. Song Jia ultimately earned full Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) membership and entered the professional stage.
Overseas cases are similar. Tiger Woods' father, Earl Woods, trained his son's mentality with focus exercises that simulated real competition. Tiger Woods is also helping his son Charlie's growth up close. Charlie is drawing attention for a stable swing and excellent feel, and reviews say his unwavering focus on competition in front of countless cameras is impressive.
Experts point to common threads in these cases: ▲ discovering a child's talent through observation ▲ fundamentals-centered training ▲ character and mental education ▲ a long-term roadmap ▲ devoted parental support. The analysis is that an educational philosophy prioritizing the growth process over short-term results ultimately translated into competitiveness on the world stage.