Young South Korean snowboarder Yousung Eun, an 18-year-old standout, has secured full funding for intensive training ahead of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics in the women’s big air event.
Strong Selection Performance
On October 10 (Korean time), Eun competed at Livigno Snowpark in Italy during the selection trials for the Olympic snowboarding women’s big air squad. She combined scores of 171.00 points from her first and second runs to claim third place, trailing Japan’s Kokomo Murase (179 points) and New Zealand’s Joie Sadosky Sinett (172.25 points).
This result marks a significant milestone for Team Korea, which has the smallest women’s ski and snowboarding contingent at the world championships and Korea’s lowest Olympic medal tally in snowboarding freestyle events.
Team Leadership and Support
The national team coaching staff recently named Lee Chang-ho as outdoor coach, Kim Na-mi as big air coach, Yousung Eun as a key athlete, and Kim Su-cheol as halfpipe coach. Kim Na-mi, a legendary figure in women’s skiing, leads the big air efforts alongside Lee Chang-ho, the snowboarding department coach.
Currently training at a camp in China, Kim Na-mi serves as Team Korea’s captain at Livigno. Veteran Kim Sang-gyeom (37) anchors the squad, with Eun emerging as a promising ’18-year-old powerhouse’ alongside other talents like big air head coach Kim Na-mi and department representatives.
Overcoming Challenges
Following her medal win, Eun faced online doubts and harsh criticism on social media. Yet, she channeled this negativity into motivation. ‘Entering the Olympic arena as the first medalist in Korean snowboarding history with such overwhelming pride fills me with joy,’ a team member stated. ‘Snowboarding big air carries great weight in our sport, where Yousung proves her skill, mindset, and concentration. She inspires national pride and delivers thrilling performances,’ they added.
Kim Na-mi emphasized Eun’s resilience: ‘As big air coach, meeting her at the first Olympics and seeing that medal emerge in the same sport fills me with immense pride. Such influence and joy motivate me deeply, easing my worries.’
The coach continued, ‘Kim Sang-gyeom’s medal isn’t just a result of hard training—it’s talent, bold risk-taking, inner strength, and unbreakable spirit that yield valuable outcomes.’
After the big air qualification, Eun reflected: ‘Even without concentrated efforts in previous seasons, I’ve boosted team morale by prioritizing momentum over personal glory, fostering trust, and pushing limits. With room for growth, I’m sincerely grateful.’
‘Just one more boost for Korean snowboarding—everyone cheers heartily,’ she concluded, signaling strong momentum.
Upcoming Outlook
The squad eyes the next two-year cycle intensely, classified as ‘underdogs’ yet poised for medal contention. Eun’s recent highlight at Livigno, where snowboarding halfpipe hopefuls also shone, underscores rising expectations. The next selection occurs on October 13 at 3:30 a.m.
