Kim Sang-gyeom, a 37-year-old South Korean snowboarder, captured silver in the men’s snowboard big air event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Competing at Livigno Snowpark in Italy on February 8 Korean time, he narrowly missed gold, falling 0.19 points short of defending champion Benjamin Karl of Austria.
Breakthrough Performance
This marks Kim’s first Olympic medal after years of dedication. He also advanced strongly in the halfpipe qualification rounds, showcasing his consistency across 16 runs. At 37, Kim overcame previous near-misses, including fourth place at the 2021 world championships and 13th in the 2024-2025 World Cup slopestyle rankings.
Despite competing in nine world championships and three Olympics without a podium finish before, Kim finally secured the silver that eluded him. His emotional breakthrough brought tears as he clutched the medal, reflecting on the journey.
Family Support and Tears of Joy
Family members and close supporters enveloped Kim in warm embraces post-race. In a post-competition interview, he shared, “I feel relieved that I finally grabbed a medal in my fourth Olympics.” Describing the riding, he added, “I did 90 seconds of intense riding today.”
Reflecting on challenges, Kim noted, “In eight runs, I bumped into the Italian from the first round and relied on my experience and skills to push through. Even so, it was a good result.” He expressed deep emotion: “I pushed through eight runs, four inside the pipe, bumping walls and overcoming many obstacles.”
Kim emphasized perseverance: “There are always more routines. I’m running everywhere to create opportunities and will focus on nurturing my skills.” Addressing future halfpipe hopes after strong prelims, he said, “If we manage the team well, good synergy emerges, bringing us closer to the top. Congratulations on the first Olympic medal in slopestyle—putting Korea on the map in big rankings.”
Inspiration Amid Adversity
Teammates cheered wildly, shouting “You got the medal!” as Kim crossed the line. He remarked, “Snowboarding is my life,” highlighting the joy: “It’s fun being pushed around, but holding onto it brings better results.”
Kim expressed gratitude: “Thank you fans for cheering, and thanks to my family.” In another interview, he reaffirmed, “This fourth Olympics feels even better—doing real skills confidently. After intense training, I want to collect more medals.”
Since his debut in 2011, Kim has competed relentlessly through 2026, embodying family warmth. “Families feel the warmth a lot. Skeptical ones, passionate fans—we have plenty now,” he said. “This medal means a lot, handed straight to wife and family.”
With his wife expecting, Kim celebrated the new life alongside his achievement, vowing continued pursuit of excellence.
