A new chapter in Korean snowboarding drew attention on the world stage as well. Choi Gaon's golden run was included in U.S. broadcaster NBC's 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics first-half Highlight.
U.S. broadcaster NBC on the 17th (Korean time) selected the 10 "best moments" among major scenes that unfolded over the 10 days since the opening of the Games. Among them, the scene of Choi Gaon's victory after rising to the top in the women's halfpipe also made the list. It was even more meaningful because it was a result that surpassed Chloe Kim (United States), who had been regarded as the world's best.
NBC described Choi Gaon as "the only athlete who changed the momentum when Chloe Kim's bid for a third straight Olympic title seemed likely." It also highlighted the connection of Choi having trained in the United States with the help of Chloe Kim and her father during her childhood. The outlet said the narrative of the pupil surpassing the idol remained as one of the symbolic scenes of this Games.
Choi Gaon scored 90.25 points in the women's halfpipe final held on Feb. 13 at the Livigno Snowpark in Italy and took the gold medal. Chloe Kim followed with 88.00 points. Born in November 2008, Choi Gaon won at the age of 17 years and 3 months, setting a new record as the youngest gold medalist, surpassing the youngest gold medal record Chloe Kim set in PyeongChang.
A scene after the competition also drew attention. Silver medalist Chloe Kim was the first to approach and embrace Choi Gaon to congratulate her, and the two athletes shared their joy together as the crowd applauded.
Among NBC's selected first-half major moments were various scenes besides Choi Gaon. The moment when Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braten became the first South American athlete to win a Winter Olympic medal; the scene of Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo making new history with a total of nine gold medals; and the moment Kazakhstan's Mikhail Shaydorov caused an upset by taking the men's singles figure skating title were all introduced together.
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