Journalist

Jang Sun-a
  • Alysa Liu Wins Olympic Women’s Figure Skating Gold, First for U.S. Since 2002
    Alysa Liu Wins Olympic Women’s Figure Skating Gold, First for U.S. Since 2002 Alysa Liu of the United States, who stepped away from skating because of burnout, climbed to the top of the Olympic podium with a comeback gold in women’s figure skating singles at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Liu won the free skate on Feb. 20 (Korean time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy, scoring 150.20 points for a total of 226.79. After placing third in the short program, she delivered a clean free skate to move into first. It was the first Olympic gold for an American in women’s singles since Sarah Hughes at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, ending a 24-year drought. Liu emerged early as a U.S. figure skating standout. In 2019, at age 13 years, 5 months, she won the U.S. championships to become the youngest champion in event history. In 2018, she drew attention by landing a triple axel in international competition. She placed sixth at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and third at the world championships later that year, but announced a sudden retirement at age 16, citing burnout. She then focused on school and took time away before announcing her return in 2024. After coming back, Liu skated with a looser style, winning the 2025 world championships and the 2025-2026 International Skating Union Grand Prix Final in succession. In Milan, she again looked unburdened as she won over the crowd. After clinching gold, Liu said, “I did the things people told me not to do,” adding, “I hope my story can inspire many people.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 23:30:00
  • Olympic Big Air Bronze Medalist Yoo Seung-eun Vows to Improve Slopestyle After Missed Runs
    Olympic Big Air Bronze Medalist Yoo Seung-eun Vows to Improve Slopestyle After Missed Runs Yoo Seung-eun, the first South Korean female skier or snowboarder to reach an Olympic podium, said she wants to strengthen her slopestyle performance after winning bronze in her main event, big air. Speaking at a news conference at Korea House in Milan on Feb. 20 (local time), Yoo said, “I feel relieved now that the competition is over,” but added, “I’m disappointed and regretful because I couldn’t land all my runs in slopestyle.” Yoo, a high school student born in 2008, won bronze in women’s snowboard big air on Feb. 10, delivering South Korea’s second medal of the Games. It was the country’s third Olympic medal in skiing and snowboarding and the first by a woman. In slopestyle, Yoo qualified for the final in third place, but made mistakes on all three runs and finished last among the 12 finalists. “The moment I remember most is my first run in the big air final,” she said. “In slopestyle, I realized I still have a lot to work on.” She added that she is weaker on rails and thought she “might have finished mid-pack” in slopestyle. Yoo said she reached the Olympics despite suffering ankle and wrist fractures since 2024. “A lot of people around me helped and supported me. I never could have made it here on my own,” she said. On her condition, she said her ankle has recovered, though it can hurt briefly when she takes a hard impact on the board. She said her wrist still makes it difficult to brace directly with her hand, but it does not affect daily life. South Korean snowboarding set a single-Games record for medals, with Kim Sang-gyeom’s silver in men’s parallel giant slalom, Yoo’s bronze in big air and Choi Ga-on’s gold in halfpipe. “I’m not a rider who’s naturally great — I’m someone who works hard,” Yoo said. “Including Ga-on, everyone rides so well and seems really talented.” She said she was impressed watching Choi fall hard on her first run but still execute her third run. “She’s my friend, but I respect her,” Yoo said. Yoo said her preparation focused on big air, with airbag training in Japan. She said she prepared for slopestyle mainly by riding rails for about a month in Italy. “I’ll work to become a rider who can do both well,” she said. Yoo said she had been focused only on this Olympics and had not thought much about what comes next, but added, “At the next Olympics, I’ll practice more so I can show an even better performance.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 22:00:00
  • South Korea’s Lee Seung-hoon reaches Olympic men’s halfpipe final, a first for the country
    South Korea’s Lee Seung-hoon reaches Olympic men’s halfpipe final, a first for the country South Korea set a new Olympic milestone in freestyle skiing as Lee Seung-hoon (Korea National Sport University) advanced to the men’s halfpipe final, the first Korean to do so. Lee qualified on Feb. 20 (Korean time) at Livigno Snow Park in Italy at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. He scored 76.00 points and finished 10th, earning one of 12 final berths. Halfpipe is judged on aerial tricks performed while riding up and down a semicylindrical course. In qualifying, athletes take two runs, with the higher score counting. Lee posted his 76.00 on his first run, linking five tricks smoothly as the 13th skier to start. On his second run, he increased the difficulty but lost balance on the landing of his third jump, leaving his score unchanged. Lee has shown promise internationally. He was runner-up at the 2021 junior world championships and won bronze at a World Cup event in Calgary, Canada, in February 2024 — South Korea’s first freestyle skiing World Cup medal. He also won halfpipe gold at last year’s Harbin Asian Winter Games. The Olympic final is scheduled for 3:30 a.m. Feb. 21 at the same venue.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 21:06:00
  • South Korea Speedskating Faces Medal Drought at Milan-Cortina Olympics
    South Korea Speedskating Faces Medal Drought at Milan-Cortina Olympics South Korean speedskating is facing a crisis on the Olympic stage. Long one of the country’s most successful Winter Olympic sports after short track, speedskating has yet to win a medal at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Games, raising the possibility of finishing empty-handed. South Korea’s Olympic speedskating medal history began at the 1992 Albertville Games, when Kim Yoon-man won silver in the men’s 500 meters. Over the next six Olympics, the team added five gold, 10 silver and five bronze medals. As of the 20th, short track remains South Korea’s top Winter Olympic medal sport (27 gold, 17 silver, 13 bronze), with speedskating traditionally next. At the 2010 Vancouver Games, speedskating won three gold and two silver medals, earning more gold than short track at the same Olympics. But with three days left before the closing ceremony, South Korea still has no speedskating medals in Milan. In the women’s 500 meters, Lee Na-hyeon of Korea National Sport University placed 10th and Kim Min-sun of Uijeongbu City Hall finished 14th. In the men’s 500, prospect Kim Jun-ho of Gangwon Provincial Office placed 12th. Among the remaining events, the most realistic medal hope is Jeong Jae-won of Gangwon Provincial Office in the men’s mass start. He is scheduled to race at 11 p.m. on the 21st at the Milan speedskating stadium. Jeong is a leading national team skater who won silver in team pursuit at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and silver in the mass start at the 2022 Beijing Games. In his third Olympics, he is trying to win a medal for a third straight Games. Jeong has shown steady form this season, winning two silver medals in mass start across ISU World Cup stops 1 through 4 in 2025-2026. Cho Seung-min, who is set to enter Korea National Sport University, will also compete in the men’s mass start, along with Park Ji-woo of Gangwon Provincial Office and Lim Ri-won, also set to enter Korea National Sport University, in the women’s mass start. Their medal chances are viewed as relatively lower. If South Korea fails to add a medal, it would mark the team’s first Olympic speedskating medal drought since the 2002 Salt Lake City Games — a span of 24 years. South Korean speedskating won medals at five straight Olympics from the 2006 Turin Games through the 2022 Beijing Games. This year’s results are expected to determine whether that run continues.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 20:06:00
  • Choi Min-jeong Eyes Historic Third Straight Olympic 1,500m Title in Milan
    Choi Min-jeong Eyes Historic Third Straight Olympic 1,500m Title in Milan South Korean short track star Choi Min-jeong (Seongnam City Hall) will chase another milestone at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. Choi is scheduled to race in the women’s 1,500 meters at 4:15 a.m. Friday (Korea time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy. The event will run from the quarterfinals through the semifinals and final on the same day. The medal-deciding final is set for 6:07 a.m. After helping South Korea win gold in the women’s 3,000-meter relay, Choi has yet to take gold in an individual event at these Games. The 1,500 meters offers her a chance to finish short track’s final day with a title. The 1,500 is Choi’s signature event. She won it at the 2018 PyeongChang and 2022 Beijing Olympics and enters as the defending champion. No short track skater, male or female, has won the same Olympic individual event three straight times. If Choi wins again, she would be the first. Even including relays, the only three-peat in a single short track event remains South Korea’s women’s 3,000-meter relay, which won four straight from Lillehammer 1994 through Turin 2006. Choi has won four Olympic gold medals and two silvers. She is already tied for South Korea’s most Winter Olympic golds and tied for the most Olympic medals by a South Korean athlete across both the Summer and Winter Games. If she wins the 1,500 again, she would move into sole possession of the South Korean record with seven career Olympic medals. She would also set a new national mark with five Winter Olympic golds, while completing the first three-peat in an Olympic short track individual event. South Korea will also have Kim Gil-li (Seongnam City Hall) and Noh Do-hee (Hwaseong City Hall), both members of the relay gold team, in the women’s 1,500. The men’s team will go for gold in the 5,000-meter relay final at 5:30 a.m. Friday, led by Lim Jong-eon (Goyang City Hall) and Hwang Dae-heon (Gangwon Provincial Government), aiming to reclaim the title for the first time in 20 years.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 18:45:00
  • Upside-Down South Korean Flag Used Repeatedly at Milan 2026 Short Track Medal Ceremonies
    Upside-Down South Korean Flag Used Repeatedly at Milan 2026 Short Track Medal Ceremonies It was disclosed after the fact that an incorrect South Korean flag was raised during short track speed skating medal ceremonies at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. The organizing committee used a flag with the taegeuk symbol tilted counterclockwise — a design that differs from the official standard — during the women’s 3,000-meter relay medal ceremony held at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Milan, it said on Feb. 19 (Korea time). South Korea won gold in the event after finishing first in the final. Choi Min-jeong, Kim Gil-li (both Seongnam City Hall), Noh Do-hee (Hwaseong City Hall), Shim Suk-hee (Seoul City Hall) and Lee So-yeon (Sport Toto) stood on the podium. The same incorrect design was also used at three other medal ceremonies: the men’s 1,000 meters on Feb. 13 (Lim Jong-eon, bronze), the men’s 1,500 meters on Feb. 15 (Hwang Dae-heon, silver) and the women’s 1,000 meters on Feb. 16 (Kim Gil-li, bronze). A Korean Sport and Olympic Committee official said Feb. 20 that for each Olympics, the government provides the organizing committee with the official flag file and the national anthem audio, adding, “This was not our mistake.” The official said the committee will decide whether to respond after an internal review.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 18:21:00
  • Laila Edwards, First Black Player on U.S. Women’s Hockey Team, Wins Olympic Gold
    Laila Edwards, First Black Player on U.S. Women’s Hockey Team, Wins Olympic Gold Laila Edwards, the first Black player on the U.S. women’s national hockey team, won an Olympic gold medal with her family in the stands. The United States beat rival Canada 2-1 in the women’s ice hockey final at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics at Santa Giulia Arena in Milan on Feb. 20 (Korea time), returning to the top of the podium for the first time in eight years. Edwards played a key role throughout the tournament and helped drive the attack in the final. With the U.S. trailing 1-0 late in the third period, she assisted Hilary Knight’s tying goal. The Americans then scored the winner in overtime. After the game, Edwards raised her hand toward her family in the crowd. Her 91-year-old grandmother, Ernestine Gray, was among those watching in person. According to The Associated Press, cost initially made the trip difficult. Bringing 10 family members from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, required significant expenses, and the family could afford to send only some of them. Local residents and fans then organized fundraising, and a GoFundMe started by her father raised $61,000. NFL players Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce, both from Cleveland, donated $10,000 and initially did so anonymously. In the end, 10 family members and four friends made it to the arena, and Edwards clinched the title with them watching. “Having my family here means everything to me,” Edwards said after the game. “It’s hard to put into words what it means to show the people who helped me get here my dream coming true.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 17:39:41
  • Nordic Combined Faces Possible Olympic Exit After 2026 Milan-Cortina Games
    Nordic Combined Faces Possible Olympic Exit After 2026 Milan-Cortina Games Nordic combined, the only Olympic sport across both the Summer and Winter Games that still does not allow women to compete, is at risk of disappearing from the Olympics after this edition of the Games. On 20 (Korea time), the Nordic combined schedule at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics concluded, raising the possibility that this could be the sport’s last Olympic appearance. Nordic combined determines standings first through ski jumping, then decides the winners in a cross-country race. It is considered one of the most demanding winter sports, requiring speed, endurance, technique and strategy. The event has been part of the Olympics since the inaugural 1924 Games, but unlike the world championships or World Cup circuit, women are still not permitted to compete at the Olympics. According to The Associated Press, the International Olympic Committee is reviewing whether to drop Nordic combined, citing limited popularity and a medal distribution concentrated in a few countries. That imbalance was again evident at these Games, where Norway won all three gold medals. The result added momentum to calls for change. Athletes voiced concern as talk of removal grew. Jens Luraas Oftebro of Norway, who helped his country sweep the three golds, said, “I hope the competition at these Games brought enjoyment,” adding, “I hope the IOC will recognize the value of the sport.” Czech athlete Jan Vytrval said, “Nordic combined deserves far more popularity considering how entertaining it is to watch and the athletes’ incredible skills,” and called it “far too valuable to be deleted from the Olympics.” The IOC is also reported to be discussing whether to keep snowboard parallel giant slalom, the event in which Kim Sang-gyeom won South Korea’s first medal of these Games. If one of the two sports is removed, its slot could be filled by a new event such as polo or croquet.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 16:33:00
  • Shim Suk-hee Wins Third Olympic Relay Gold as South Korea Takes 3,000-Meter Title in Milan
    Shim Suk-hee Wins Third Olympic Relay Gold as South Korea Takes 3,000-Meter Title in Milan Shim Suk-hee of Seoul City Hall, back on the Olympic stage after eight years, helped South Korea win gold in the women’s 3,000-meter relay for her third career Olympic gold medal in the event. On Feb. 19 (Korea time), Shim and South Korea won the short track women’s 3,000-meter relay at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. It was her third Olympic relay gold, after 2014 Sochi and 2018 Pyeongchang. Shim missed the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics because of a suspension. Her role in Milan differed from earlier Games. After placing third at the national team trials last April, she joined the relay squad and focused on the team event rather than serving as the centerpiece. Her main job was using her 175-centimeter frame and powerful drive to push her younger teammates. In key late-race moments, she was tasked with giving a strong push to lead skater Choi Min-jeong of Seongnam City Hall to change the race’s momentum. That played out in the semifinals. With 10 laps left, Choi received Shim’s push, cut to the inside and passed Canada to take the lead. South Korea was later overtaken by China, but another push helped the team regain control and secure a spot in the final. The decisive moment in the final on Feb. 19 was similar. With four laps remaining, Shim pushed Choi at full effort, and Choi accelerated past Canada. Anchor Kim Gil-li then held off Italy’s Arianna Fontana to seal the gold. After the medal was secured, Shim covered her face with both hands and cried. In the mixed zone, she said, “There were many difficult moments, both during the Olympic preparation process and in today’s final,” adding, “It was overwhelming because I think all of us endured and overcame that tough process together.” Asked about winning her third relay gold, Shim said, “I was able to get good results thanks to meeting the right teammates each time,” and added, “I’ll live each day working hard.” 2026-02-19 07:45:00
  • China’s Lin Xiaojun Ends Milan-Cortina Olympic Short Track Events Without a Medal
    China’s Lin Xiaojun Ends Milan-Cortina Olympic Short Track Events Without a Medal Lin Xiaojun of China finished the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics without a medal in the men’s individual short track events. Lin placed fourth in the third quarterfinal heat of the men’s 500 meters at the Milan Ice Skating Arena on Wednesday (Korea time), clocking 40.638 seconds. Canada’s William Dandjinou (40.330) and Italy’s Pietro Sighel (40.392) advanced in first and second. Canada’s Maxime Laoun (40.454) also moved on as the fastest third-place finisher across the heats. The result eliminated Lin from the 500, ending his individual schedule. He also failed to get past the quarterfinals in the 1,000 and 1,500. Lin won one gold and one bronze medal for South Korea at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. After an incident during national team training in June 2019, he was suspended by the Korea Skating Union and later became a naturalized Chinese citizen. He returned to the Olympics after eight years but did not reach the podium in individual events. He also came up short in team events. Lin skated only in the quarterfinals of the mixed relay, and China finished fourth in the final. In the men’s 5,000 relay, China reached the semifinals but did not advance to the final. In the men’s 500 final, Canada’s Steven Dubois won gold in 40.835. The Netherlands’ Meller Vant Wout took silver in 40.912, and Jens Vant Wout won bronze in 41.908. 2026-02-19 06:06:00