Lee Chae Woon Reaches Historic Olympic Final, Lee Ji Oh Narrowly Misses Out
South Korean skier Lee Chae Woon has made history by qualifying for the finals in the men’s skiing halfpipe at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. This remarkable achievement comes as he scored 82.00 points in the qualifiers held on December 12 at the Snow Park in Livigno, Italy. At just 20 years old and representing Kyunghee University, he has become the first male skier from South Korea to reach an Olympic final.
Lee Chae Woon’s Olympic Journey
Lee Chae Woon’s performance during the qualifiers was impressive. He successfully executed all five jumps in his first trial, showcasing his skills with a standout ‘Switch Backside Double Coke 1080’. His score was significant enough to secure a place among the top twelve competitors who earned spots in the final.
The final is set to take place at 3:30 AM on December 14. Lee aims to win his first individual Olympic medal, which would be a landmark achievement for South Korea in winter sports.
Background and Achievements
Lee made headlines in 2020 when he won the FIS Asian Cup at just 14 years old. He further distinguished himself as the youngest South Korean athlete to compete in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. At the 2023 World Championships, he again set records by becoming the youngest champion at 16 years and 10 months old.
In addition, Lee won a gold medal in men’s slopestyle at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin last year, boosting expectations for his Olympic performance.
Challenges for Other Competitors
Unfortunately, not all South Korean athletes shared Lee’s success. Lee Ji Oh, 18, from Yangpyeong High School, and Kim Gun Hee, also 18, from Shiheung Maehwa High School, failed to qualify for the finals. Lee Ji Oh struggled in his first trial, finishing with just 17.75 points after losing his balance on his second jump. His second attempt yielded a score of 74.00, falling short of qualifying.
Meanwhile, Kim Gun Hee ended the competition ranked 23rd, with a cumulative score of 8.5 points across both trials.
Conclusion
As Lee Chae Woon heads into the finals, all eyes will be on him. His historic qualification highlights a promising future for South Korean winter sports.
