Journalist

Jang Sun-a
  • Snowboarder Yoo Seung-eun finishes 12th in Olympic women’s slopestyle
    Snowboarder Yoo Seung-eun finishes 12th in Olympic women’s slopestyle Yoo Seung-eun of Seongbok High School fell short in her bid for another medal in the women’s snowboard slopestyle at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, saying she was disappointed with her performance. Competing Tuesday (Korea time) at Livigno Snow Park in Italy, Yoo scored 34.18 points in the final and finished 12th among 12 athletes. After winning South Korea’s first Olympic medal in women’s snowboarding in big air, Yoo tried to add another podium finish in slopestyle. But mistakes in all three runs kept her from moving up the standings. “I feel like I rode really badly. It’s so frustrating,” Yoo said after the event. “I’m sorry I couldn’t show a good performance to everyone who supported me.” Looking back, she said, “Everything is disappointing. I tried to play it safe early on, but I made a mistake. After that, I kept making mistakes, and I felt I’m still lacking a lot in skill.” She pointed to the rail section as a weakness. “I think I was more nervous than in qualifying,” she said. “My condition was fine today. I felt my rail skills are very lacking.” Yoo also contrasted slopestyle with big air. “In big air, I could try a lot of new techniques, so it was a really good experience,” she said. “In slopestyle, I realized how much I’m lacking in the rail section.” After her first Olympics, Yoo said, “Overall, it was a really fun Olympics,” adding, “I’m set to return home tomorrow, but I’m a little disappointed because the final result wasn’t good.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 04:12:00
  • Dog Runs Onto Cross-Country Course at Milan-Cortina Olympics, Follows Skier to Finish
    Dog Runs Onto Cross-Country Course at Milan-Cortina Olympics, Follows Skier to Finish A large dog ran onto the course during cross-country skiing at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, briefly joining the race. In the women’s team sprint qualifying on Feb. 18 (Korea time) at the cross-country stadium in Tesero, Italy, a Czech wolfhound bounded onto the snow and ran behind the skiers. The dog sprinted just behind Croatia’s Tena Hadzic, who finished 19th, and followed her all the way across the finish line. Reuters reported that the dog started running after the athletes near the finish, paused briefly to sniff, then passed them and crossed the line. Spectators laughed and cheered at the unexpected sight, and some stood to applaud. The dog’s owner told NPR the pet is named “Nazgul,” after an evil spirit in “The Lord of the Rings.” He said the dog cried more than usual after watching them leave for the stadium, so he brought it along, adding that it likes people and follows them well. The incident also drew attention among athletes. Sweden’s Jonna Sundling, who won, said, “It was really fun,” adding that she laughed because the dog seemed to want to come into the mixed zone as well. Omega, the Olympics’ official timekeeper, added to the buzz by preserving the moment the dog crossed the finish line in a photo-finish image.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 02:15:00
  • Ukraine to Boycott Opening Ceremony, Other Events at Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics
    Ukraine to Boycott Opening Ceremony, Other Events at Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics Ukraine will skip the opening ceremony and other official events at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Paralympics, which begin March 7 (Korea time), in protest of the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian teams to compete under their national flags. According to Reuters, Ukraine’s sports minister, Matvii Bidnyi, said on Feb. 18, “Our team will not attend any events during the Games,” adding, “However, we will compete as normal.” Earlier that day, the International Paralympic Committee approved entries for six Russian athletes and four Belarusian athletes for the Winter Paralympics. It also decided to allow the use of the two countries’ flags and the playing of their national anthems. The IPC barred Russia and Belarus from hosting international events and suspended their eligibility after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2022. It restored their membership at its general assembly in Seoul in August last year. Russia’s participation as a national Paralympic team marks its first such appearance since the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympics, 12 years ago.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 00:27:00
  • South Korea’s Lee Hae-in sets season best in Olympic short program debut
    South Korea’s Lee Hae-in sets season best in Olympic short program debut South Korean figure skater Lee Hae-in (Korea University) set a season-best score in the short program at her first Winter Olympics, saying she handled the moment despite nerves. Competing at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy on Feb. 18 (Korea time), Lee scored 70.07 points in the women’s singles short program, with 37.61 in technical elements (TES) and 32.46 in program components (PCS). She improved her previous season best of 67.06 by 3.01 points and secured a spot in the free skate. “Up until yesterday, I thought I wouldn’t be nervous, but that wasn’t the case,” Lee said. “Even while nervous, I focused more on the feeling of my feet on the ice. I don’t think I made any big mistakes, so I think I did well.” She said she was disappointed she could not fully show a transition she had practiced after her first triple combination jump because her blade caught in the ice on the landing. Lee said she was pleased to see the season-best mark. “I want to praise myself for trying to earn points on every element,” she said. “I was happy when the score came up and it was a season best.” Looking ahead to the free skate, Lee said she needs to pay closer attention to every element. “Since there were parts that felt lacking today, I’ll show everything I prepared in the free skate without leaving anything out,” she said, adding that while there are more elements to focus on and she expects to be nervous, she hopes to enjoy it more.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-18 07:39:00
  • South Korea’s Kim Jin-su 13th, Seok Young-jin 19th in Olympic two-man bobsled
    South Korea’s Kim Jin-su 13th, Seok Young-jin 19th in Olympic two-man bobsled South Korea’s men’s two-man bobsled teams led by Kim Jin-su and Seok Young-jin finished outside the top 10 at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Pilot Kim Jin-su and brakeman Kim Hyeong-geun, both of Gangwon Provincial Office, placed 13th with a four-run total of 3 minutes, 43.60 seconds at the Cortina Sliding Center in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Kim’s sled was 12th among 26 teams after the first two runs in 1:51.69, but slipped a spot after a 55.90 in Run 3. The team posted 56.01 in the final run to finish 13th. Kim had been fifth-fastest in Run 1 at 55.53. Seok Young-jin, also of Gangwon Provincial Office, and brakeman Chae Byeong-do of Catholic Kwandong University finished 19th in 3:44.61. Both teams will also compete in the men’s four-man event Feb. 21-22. Kim’s crew will add Lee Geon-woo and Kim Seon-uk of the Gangwon Federation, while Seok’s team will be joined by Lee Do-yoon of Korea National Sport University and Jeon Su-hyeon of the Gangwon Federation. Germany swept the men’s two-man medals again, as it did at the 2022 Beijing Games. Johannes Lochner and Georg Fleischhauer won gold in 3:39.70. Francesco Friedrich and Alexander Schueller took silver in 3:41.04, and Adam Ammour and Alexander Schaller won bronze in 3:41.52. Friedrich, who won this event at Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022, fell short in his bid for a third straight two-man title and will try for gold again in the four-man race.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-18 07:18:00
  • Lee Hae-in, Shin Jia Advance to Women’s Free Skate at 2026 Milan Olympics
    Lee Hae-in, Shin Jia Advance to Women’s Free Skate at 2026 Milan Olympics Lee Hae-in of Korea University and Shin Jia of Sewha Girls’ High School both qualified for the free skate in the women’s singles at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. Lee scored 70.07 points in the short program at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 18 Korean time, earning 37.61 in technical elements (TES) and 32.46 in program components (PCS). It was her season-best short-program score, and she stood second in the interim standings after 17 skaters across three groups had performed. Skating to Christopher Tin’s “Siren,” Lee opened with a clean triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination, then landed a double Axel and a triple flip. She received level 4 on the flying camel spin, sit spin, change-foot combination spin and step sequence. Shin totaled 65.66 points (TES 35.79, PCS 30.87) to advance. Skating to Chopin’s “Nocturne,” she fell on her triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination. She later completed a double Axel and a triple flip, and earned level 4 on the flying camel spin, change-foot combination spin and step sequence. Her final layback spin was graded level 3. A total of 29 skaters competed in the women’s short program, with the top 24 advancing to the free skate, scheduled for Feb. 20.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-18 05:54:00
  • Albania’s Lara Colturi, Once ‘in the Womb’ at Turin Games, Races at Milan-Cortina
    Albania’s Lara Colturi, Once ‘in the Womb’ at Turin Games, Races at Milan-Cortina Some athletes have experienced both the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics and the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, returning to the same stage 20 years later. Among them are American ski star Lindsey Vonn and Italian short-track standout Arianna Fontana. Another athlete has an unusual link to both Games: Albanian alpine skier Lara Colturi. Born in November 2006, Colturi was already at the Turin Olympics — in her mother’s womb. Her mother, Daniela Ceccarelli, competed for Italy in alpine skiing at the time. Colturi raced in the women’s giant slalom on Feb. 15 (Korean time) at the Tofane Alpine Ski Center in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, clocking 1 minute, 3.97 seconds to finish in a tie for fourth. She narrowly missed the medals. In an interview with the Olympic Channel, Colturi said, “Except for the Olympics I attended while in my mother’s belly, this is my first Olympics,” adding, “Until now I lived as Ceccarelli’s daughter, but now I feel like I’ve truly become an Olympian.” She added, “I want a better result in slalom,” and said she hopes to “make new history as Albania’s first Winter Olympic medalist.” Ceccarelli won gold in the women’s super-G at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. At the 2006 Turin Games, she competed despite being pregnant and dealing with a knee injury. Colturi switched her sporting nationality to Albania to train in a more independent environment. Coached by her mother, she made her International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) World Cup debut in 2022 at age 15 and is now competing on the Olympic stage.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-18 04:33:00
  • Korea Sports Council Holds Lunar New Year ‘Korea Day’ Event in Milan
    Korea Sports Council Holds Lunar New Year ‘Korea Day’ Event in Milan The Korea Sports Council held a Lunar New Year “Korea Day” event in Milan, Italy, where the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics are being staged. The council said it ran a hands-on program Feb. 17 (local time) at Korea House set up at Villa Necchi Campiglio, introducing Korean holiday traditions to local residents and Koreans living in the area. The event included traditional folk games such as jegichagi, along with a K-pop cover dance performance and a stage by the Jeonbuk State Gugak Center. Participants also shared tteokguk, a rice-cake soup commonly eaten for the holiday. About 100 people attended, including Kim Jun-gu, South Korea’s ambassador to Italy; Choi Tae-ho, consul general in Milan; and Noh Hee-young, head of the Korea House support team.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-18 02:15:00
  • South Korea women fall 7-5 to top-ranked Switzerland in Olympic curling round-robin
    South Korea women fall 7-5 to top-ranked Switzerland in Olympic curling round-robin South Korea’s women’s curling team lost 7-5 to world No. 1 Switzerland in Olympic round-robin play, tightening the race for a spot in the semifinals. World No. 3 South Korea — skip Kim Eun-ji, third Kim Min-ji, second Seol Ye-ji, lead Seol Ye-eun and alternate Kim Su-ji — fell in its seventh round-robin game at the Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on Feb. 18 (Korea time). South Korea dropped into a tie for fourth at 4-3 with Canada. Sweden led at 6-1, followed by Switzerland and the United States at 5-2. South Korea had been tied for second a day earlier. The teams were even early after South Korea scored first in the opening end, but Switzerland seized momentum with three points in the second. The match stayed close through the middle ends as the teams traded single points. Switzerland pulled away in the ninth with a double takeout that produced two points. South Korea tried to set up a big final end but could not score enough in the 10th to complete the comeback. In women’s curling, 10 teams play a round-robin, with the top four advancing to the semifinals and a medal-round bracket. South Korea next faces Sweden on Feb. 18 and then Canada on Feb. 19.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-18 01:39:00
  • Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle Final With Yoo Seung-eun Postponed to Feb. 18 at Milan Olympics
    Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle Final With Yoo Seung-eun Postponed to Feb. 18 at Milan Olympics The women’s snowboard slopestyle final at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics was postponed for a day because of heavy snow. The organizing committee said on Feb. 17 (local time) that worsening weather forced it to delay the final, now set for Feb. 18 at 2:30 p.m. local time (10:30 p.m. in South Korea). The event had been scheduled for 1 p.m. on Feb. 17 at Livigno Snow Park, but heavy snowfall in the Alps prompted a change. The organizers and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation said snow made it difficult to maintain visibility and speed, complicating safe operations. The men’s slopestyle final, originally set for 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 18, was moved up to 11:20 a.m., followed by the women’s final. South Korea’s Yoo Seung-eun of Seongbok High School will compete in the women’s final after placing third in qualifying with 76.8 points. Yoo earlier won bronze in women’s big air, becoming the first South Korean woman to medal in Olympic snowboarding. She will try to win a second medal in slopestyle. Slopestyle is judged on difficulty and execution as riders navigate a course featuring rails, jumps and other obstacles. In nearby Aerial Moguls Park, freestyle skiing aerials qualifying for both men and women was also postponed because of heavy snow. The women’s event is scheduled for Feb. 18, and the men’s for Feb. 19, with qualifying and finals to be held on the same day for each.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-18 01:02:59