In the men’s singles free skating event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, held on February 14 at the Milan Arena in Milan, Italy, Cha Jun-hwan delivered a solid performance despite a mid-program jump mishap.
Strong Scores Amid Challenges
Cha Jun-hwan posted a technical element score (TES) of 95.16 and a program component score (PCS) of 87.04, achieving a free skate total of 181.02. Combined with his short program, his overall score reached 273.92, securing fourth place among 24 competitors.
During the routine, Cha executed several quadruple jumps but overrotated a quad lutz-toeloop combination. He nailed the opening quad lutz-salchow sequence correctly. Regaining composure, he completed the rest of the program flawlessly.
Candid Admission on TV Replay
In a TV replay interview, Cha acknowledged the error, stating he recognized the mistake immediately during the jump sequence.
Impressive Olympic Track Record
Cha continues to elevate his status as South Korea’s top male figure skater in Olympic history. He placed 15th at the 2018 PyeongChang Games and improved to fifth at Beijing 2022. This fourth-place finish marks another personal best.
Fan Disappointment and Support
High expectations surrounded Cha’s podium potential, but the jump error left many fans disappointed. Supporters cheered intensely throughout, yet expressed frustration over the skill lapse that prevented a medal. Still, similar score drops affected rivals like Ilia Malinin and Yuma Kagiyama, highlighting the competition’s intensity.
Post-Performance Reflection
Reflecting afterward, Cha shared, “I feel like I’ve poured all four years of preparation into this for myself. Having given my best, I have no regrets about this competition.”
