Milan, Italy, February 8, 2026: Korean snowboarder Kim Sang-kyum proved that age is no barrier when competing in the Winter Olympics.
Kim, 37, claimed an unlikely silver medal in the men’s parallel giant slalom at Livigno Snow Park on Sunday to put Korea on the medals map at Milano Cortina 2026.
In his fourth Olympics and with his previous best finish 15th at PyeongChang 2018, the Seoul flyer raced all the way to the final before losing to Austria’s Benjamin Karl by just 0.19 seconds.
In taking the silver medal, Kim became just the second Korean to win an Olympic snowboarding medal, joining the 2018 parallel giant slalom silver medalist Lee Sang-ho.
It was also Korea’s 400th medal in the Olympic Games, summer and winter, and the 80th in the Winter Olympics.
Korean President Lee Jae Myung congratulated Kim on his silver medal.
"I extend my warm congratulations," Lee wrote on Facebook.
Lee noted that Kim won the medal in his fourth Olympic appearance since making his debut at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, crediting years of perseverance and dedication.
"This medal is even more meaningful as it is the 400th Olympic medal in the history of the Republic of Korea," Lee said.
Lee expressed hope that Kim's achievement would inspire courage and confidence among other Korean athletes, adding that he would continue to cheer for their performances together with the Korean people.
*Also on Sunday, February 8, Japan won their fourth medal of Milano Cortina 2026 with a silver medal finish in the team figure skating, behind the United States by only one point – 69 to 68. Japan had also won silver at Beijing 2022.
"Everybody has done a gold-medal performance," Kaori Sakamoto, a three-time world champion, said. "So, it really doesn't matter what colour medal we get."