Competing Feb. 13 (Korea time) at Livigno Snow Park in Italy, Choi scored 90.25 to win the women’s snowboard halfpipe final, beating Chloe Kim of the United States, who scored 88.00.
The victory made Choi South Korea’s first gold medalist of these Games and delivered the first Winter Olympic gold medal in Korean skiing.
Omega, the Olympics’ official timekeeper, said on Jan. 26 it would present an Olympic Edition watch to the first South Korean athlete to win an individual gold medal at Milan-Cortina.
That recipient will be Choi.
The gift is the “Speedmaster 38mm Olympic Edition” timepiece. It features a “finger trace” pattern inspired by the Milan-Cortina 2026 emblem, a sub-dial finish evoking ski slopes, and a caseback engraved with a Milan-Cortina 2026 medallion, Omega said.
Omega said the award is meant to honor “the pinnacle of the Olympic spirit — excellence, precision and dedication to sport — and to celebrate the one athlete who reached the top first.”
Omega began awarding Olympic Edition watches at the 2012 London Olympics. Jin Jong-oh received one after winning South Korea’s first gold medal there in the 10-meter air pistol, two days after the opening ceremony.
At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, short track speed skaters Hwang Dae-heon and Choi Min-jeong received the watches after winning the first men’s and women’s gold medals for South Korea, respectively.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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