In a jaw-dropping twist at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, 17-year-old Republic of Korea snowboarder Choi Ga-on flipped the script 🎬 during Thursday’s chaotic women’s halfpipe final. Battling heavy snowfall and two brutal crashes, the rookie delivered a *third-run miracle* to snatch gold from American legend Chloe Kim.
Choi’s first two runs ended in tears 😢 and a dismal 10-point score, but her final attempt—packed with gravity-defying tricks—earned a showstopping 90.25. The victory marks the ROK’s first gold at this year’s Games and ends Kim’s quest for a historic three-peat. Kim, ever the sports icon 🤝, rushed to hug the limping teen during the emotional podium ceremony.
Meanwhile, China’s Cai Xuetong fell short of the podium in a tense showdown, leaving fans eager for her next chapter. With Gen Z athletes like Choi rewriting the rules, snowboarding’s future looks brighter than a Livigno sunrise 🌄.
