It was her first stage. But her expression was not that of a rookie. Choi Ga-on confidently passed her Olympic debut.
Choi Ga-on (Sehwa Girls' High School) scored 82.25 in the snowboard women's halfpipe qualifying round at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics held at Livigno Snowpark in Livigno, Italy, on the 11th (Korea time).
She was 6th out of 24. She secured a final ticket given to the top 12. The final is on the 13th at 3:30 a.m. Now the goal is a medal.
The halfpipe qualifying ranks are decided by the best score from two runs. In her first run, Choi Ga-on showed stable airtime with an average jump height of 2.8m. She cleanly completed all five jumps.
A composition with no big mistakes and a steady landing. She even waved her hand after finishing the run. The score was 82.25. The burden of it being her first Olympics did not show.
She flew higher in the second run. The fourth trick was perfect. But she lost balance on the landing of the final jump. The score was not recognized. Under snowboard rules, if the second-run score is lower than the first, there is no separate score. But it was already enough. Her first-run score confirmed her place in the final.
Choi Ga-on is already a proven name on the world stage. In 2023 at the U.S. X Games, she won the gold medal at age 14 years and 3 months. She broke Chloe Kim's record as the youngest winner. But in 2024 she faced a major hurdle with a back injury. She also missed the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games.
She returned after a year of rehabilitation. She won three times in the 2025-26 FIS World Cup. She is ranked No. 1 in the world. The injury was not a stop but a process.
Ina Yun, who competed with her, withdrew from the second run due to right knee pain after the first run. Her challenge ended.
Chloe Kim, aiming for a third consecutive win, recorded 90.25 and placed first overall. Despite the aftermath of a shoulder injury, she was the only one in the 90s in the first run. After securing a place in the final, she did not push herself in the second run.
Choi Ga-on's first Olympics is not over yet. She passed the qualifying. Now only proof remains. Once again on the ice wall, she prepares for the highest jump.
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