Korean snowboarder Lee Sang-ho delivered a standout performance at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics test event, securing fourth place in the first qualifying round of the men’s parallel giant slalom with a time of 43.21 seconds.
Strong First-Round Run
Competing at Livigno Snowpark in Italy, Lee Sang-ho raced on the blue course against Italy’s Roland Fischnaller in channel six. Despite a tight contest, official timing confirmed his 43.21-second finish, advancing him among the top four from that course. The qualifying combined results from blue and red courses, with Lee maintaining a competitive edge throughout.
Second-Round Draw
In the second qualifying round, Lee Sang-ho drew heat 13, set to face Slovenia’s Yan Kosir on the red course. Kosir posted 43.01 seconds on the red course during the first round, setting up an intense matchup. The top 16 combined times from both rounds advance to the round of 16 tournament, scheduled after 9 p.m. local time.
Test Event Dynamics
This parallel giant slalom test event determines the primary medal courses—blue and red—based on the number of advancing athletes. The course sending more skiers to the finals gains priority. Riders enjoy up to a 1.5-second head start advantage based on first-round records, heightening the stakes. Snow conditions featured a solid base despite 15 cm depth, enabling high speeds akin to indoor track simulations.
Lee Sang-ho’s Olympic Pedigree
The 31-year-old Nexen athlete, hailing from Gangwon Province and nicknamed ‘Cabbage Boy’ for his roots near cabbage fields, ranks as Korea’s premier snowboarder. He narrowly missed a medal at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and led Korea to its first World Cup team event top seeding in 2021-2022. His recent silver at the FIS Snowboard World Cup in Rogla, Slovenia, on January 31 marks Korea’s first podium in 1 year and 10 months, signaling peak form. A medal here would mark his 400th for Korean winter sports achievements, with gold etching history as the nation’s top winter prize.
