South Korean curlers Kim Seon-young of Gangneung City Hall and Jeong Yeong-seok of Gangwon Provincial Office captured the mixed doubles quota for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. The duo triumphed at the qualification tournament in Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, Italy, on December 9 (Korean time), defeating Norway’s Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten 8-5 in the final.
Path to Victory
Entering the decisive match with four prior wins that already confirmed semifinal progression, the Korean pair delivered a commanding performance. This victory etched a new chapter in Korean curling history, securing the nation’s first Olympic berth in mixed doubles.
The team advanced as the only Asian entrant. In the round-robin phase, they posted three wins and six losses, placing ninth overall. Key results included upsets over the United States (6-5 in extra ends on December 8) and Estonia (9-3), alongside defeats to Sweden (3-10), Italy (4-8), Switzerland (5-8), England (2-8), and Czech Republic (4-9). The sixth match sparked their playoff surge.
Athletes Share Pride and Ambition
Kim Seon-young reflected on the emotional journey: “Reflecting on my proudest moment brought only nervousness at first. Personally, I felt no fear of double knockouts—practicing with seniors and diligently built a sense of burden, but it fueled me.”
She added, “Even if I filled the world with goals to inspire the next generation, showing up here means everything. I seized numerous opportunities on site, and today’s peak satisfaction comes from delivering standout performances for the juniors.”
Jeong Yeong-seok emphasized resilience: “Olympics aren’t accessible to everyone, yet effort turns it rewarding. Even facing a major event, anxiety lingered, but we maximized our team’s potential. This isn’t an Olympics for regrets—it’s one where we pushed limits without hesitation.”
He continued, “Reversing many setbacks and targeting special achievements requires responsibility. Proving capability across all games defines true success. Locking in two quotas for the next Olympics fuels my drive, and I aim to qualify again post this event.”
Future Outlook
Jeong Yeong-seok stated, “Qualifying without regrets boosts momentum greatly. We’re team leaders capable of steady advancement, filled with gratitude.”
Kim Seon-young concurred: “Anxiety exists universally in Olympics, but we competed fiercely and optimized efforts. Good synergy and anxiety coexist.” Jeong added, “Synergy and anxiety blend; more challenges ahead will hone skills without fail.”
In the team huddle, Kim noted, “Constant pressure built confidence alone. Beyond game wins, presences like ours uplifted everyone. Direct competition lacked, yet immense pride remains.” Jeong concluded, “Analyzed competition thoroughly, embraced advice, felt huge satisfaction. Special pursuits define glory—not this peak Olympics, but four years on, we’ll showcase improved form with deep gratitude.”
