Kim Sang-gyeom bites his silver medal during the medal ceremony for the men’s parallel giant slalom snowboard final at the Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy, on Feb. 8 (local time). [Photo: Yonhap]
“I want to keep riding the snowboard I love and compete on the Olympic stage even in my 40s.”
Kim Sang-gyeom, who won silver for High1 at the Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, said his path has been driven by a love of “snow” and “board,” even when reality was far from romantic.
In an interview with this newspaper on Feb. 14, Kim said the Olympics had been “so desperately important” to him. “I’ve never chased money while snowboarding. I got this far because I love snowboarding,” he said. “I may be slow, but I’m an athlete who doesn’t quit. I think the Olympic medal came because I kept going steadily.”
Kim Sang-gyeom, who won silver for High1 at the Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, said his path has been driven by a love of “snow” and “board,” even when reality was far from romantic.
In an interview with this newspaper on Feb. 14, Kim said the Olympics had been “so desperately important” to him. “I’ve never chased money while snowboarding. I got this far because I love snowboarding,” he said. “I may be slow, but I’m an athlete who doesn’t quit. I think the Olympic medal came because I kept going steadily.”
Kim Sang-gyeom won silver in the men’s parallel giant slalom snowboard final on Feb. 8 after a close race decided by 0.19 seconds. [Photo: Courtesy of Kim Sang-gyeom]
◆Years of hardship before the podium
Kim won silver in the men’s parallel giant slalom final on Feb. 8, finishing 0.19 seconds behind the winner. It was the first medal for South Korea’s team at these Olympics. He wiped away tears during a TV interview after the race, overwhelmed by what he described as 12 years of pent-up emotion.
“I’m not usually someone who cries, but I think that changed this time,” Kim said, adding with embarrassment that people now tease him for being more emotional.
Before the success, he said, he struggled to make ends meet when there was no company team. During training periods, he worked part-time one day each weekend, and in the offseason he took day labor jobs at construction sites. Equipment costs were another burden. Kim said his 195-centimeter board costs several million won each, and because boards wear out, he replaces them regularly. “I ride five or six boards in a season, and the fixed cost alone is 25 million to 30 million won,” he said.
Joining the High1 sports team in 2019 became a turning point, he said. “With financial breathing room, I became mentally stable, too,” Kim said. “I didn’t have to spend my salary on equipment, and I could get support for training camps, so I could focus only on training.”
Kim won silver in the men’s parallel giant slalom final on Feb. 8, finishing 0.19 seconds behind the winner. It was the first medal for South Korea’s team at these Olympics. He wiped away tears during a TV interview after the race, overwhelmed by what he described as 12 years of pent-up emotion.
“I’m not usually someone who cries, but I think that changed this time,” Kim said, adding with embarrassment that people now tease him for being more emotional.
Before the success, he said, he struggled to make ends meet when there was no company team. During training periods, he worked part-time one day each weekend, and in the offseason he took day labor jobs at construction sites. Equipment costs were another burden. Kim said his 195-centimeter board costs several million won each, and because boards wear out, he replaces them regularly. “I ride five or six boards in a season, and the fixed cost alone is 25 million to 30 million won,” he said.
Joining the High1 sports team in 2019 became a turning point, he said. “With financial breathing room, I became mentally stable, too,” Kim said. “I didn’t have to spend my salary on equipment, and I could get support for training camps, so I could focus only on training.”
Kim Sang-gyeom, the silver medalist in the men’s parallel giant slalom snowboard event at the Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, poses with his wife after arriving at Incheon International Airport on Feb. 10. [Photo: Yonhap]
◆“My wife is my strength”
Even with better support, the Olympics remained a steep climb. Kim debuted at the 2014 Sochi Games, finishing 17th in qualifying. At the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, he failed to reach the round of 16. At the 2022 Beijing Games, he placed 24th in qualifying and was eliminated.
Kim said family helped him endure the setbacks, especially his wife, Park Han-sol, whom he married in 2023. “Once I had a family and someone I had to take responsibility for, it was different,” he said. “It felt like I had someone completely on my side.”
He added, “I had to raise my performance because I had to support my family. That urgency and responsibility overlapped, and after that my results started trending upward.”
Even with better support, the Olympics remained a steep climb. Kim debuted at the 2014 Sochi Games, finishing 17th in qualifying. At the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, he failed to reach the round of 16. At the 2022 Beijing Games, he placed 24th in qualifying and was eliminated.
Kim said family helped him endure the setbacks, especially his wife, Park Han-sol, whom he married in 2023. “Once I had a family and someone I had to take responsibility for, it was different,” he said. “It felt like I had someone completely on my side.”
He added, “I had to raise my performance because I had to support my family. That urgency and responsibility overlapped, and after that my results started trending upward.”
Kim Sang-gyeom said he and his wife cried silently during a video call right after he won silver. [Photo: Courtesy of Kim Sang-gyeom]
Kim said his wife was the first person who came to mind after he crossed the finish line in the final. “The moment I won silver, all I could think was that I wanted to go home and see my wife,” he said. “After the race we video-called, and we both just kept crying without saying anything.”
Asked about being labeled a devoted husband after the Games, Kim said, “Not at all. I’m blunt and not good at expressing myself, but I think people saw it kindly.”
Asked about being labeled a devoted husband after the Games, Kim said, “Not at all. I’m blunt and not good at expressing myself, but I think people saw it kindly.”
Kim Sang-gyeom celebrates after advancing to the final in the men’s parallel giant slalom snowboard semifinals at the Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy, on Feb. 8 (local time). [Photo: Yonhap]
◆Next goal: 2030 Olympic gold
At 37, Kim said he is already looking ahead four years. In men’s parallel giant slalom, he noted, athletes in their late 30s and early 40s often remain competitive.
“This silver medal is incredibly valuable, but it’s also true that I feel some regret,” he said. “Every athlete wants to be first. I’m the same.” He said he plans to challenge the 2030 Alps Winter Olympics and aims to stand on the top step of the podium.
“Next time, I want to put on a gold medal and really cry my eyes out,” he said with a laugh.
Asked how he wants to be remembered, Kim said, “As an athlete who doesn’t give up even in hard moments, and someone who can be a good example for younger athletes. I hope I’m remembered as someone who proved that steady effort can bring good results.”
At 37, Kim said he is already looking ahead four years. In men’s parallel giant slalom, he noted, athletes in their late 30s and early 40s often remain competitive.
“This silver medal is incredibly valuable, but it’s also true that I feel some regret,” he said. “Every athlete wants to be first. I’m the same.” He said he plans to challenge the 2030 Alps Winter Olympics and aims to stand on the top step of the podium.
“Next time, I want to put on a gold medal and really cry my eyes out,” he said with a laugh.
Asked how he wants to be remembered, Kim said, “As an athlete who doesn’t give up even in hard moments, and someone who can be a good example for younger athletes. I hope I’m remembered as someone who proved that steady effort can bring good results.”
South Korea’s Choi Ga-on celebrates after winning gold with 90.25 points in the women’s halfpipe final at the Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy, on Feb. 12 (local time). [Photo: Yonhap]
◆South Korean snowboarding posts best-ever Olympic result
Kim’s silver helped spark what the article described as a renaissance for South Korean snowboarding at these Games. Yoo Seung-eun of Seongbok High School won a surprise bronze in women’s big air, becoming South Korea’s first female medalist in the sport at the Olympics.
Choi Ga-on won gold in halfpipe, delivering South Korea’s first-ever gold medal in a snow event. The article said she fell in her first final run and suffered a serious injury, but did not quit and produced a dramatic performance on her third run to take the title. NBC, the U.S. Olympic broadcaster, named it one of the best moments of the first half of the Games, the article said.
South Korea finished the Olympics with one gold, one silver and one bronze in snowboarding. It ranked third in the sport behind Japan (four gold, two silver, three bronze) and Austria (two gold, one silver, one bronze), the article said.
Kim’s silver helped spark what the article described as a renaissance for South Korean snowboarding at these Games. Yoo Seung-eun of Seongbok High School won a surprise bronze in women’s big air, becoming South Korea’s first female medalist in the sport at the Olympics.
Choi Ga-on won gold in halfpipe, delivering South Korea’s first-ever gold medal in a snow event. The article said she fell in her first final run and suffered a serious injury, but did not quit and produced a dramatic performance on her third run to take the title. NBC, the U.S. Olympic broadcaster, named it one of the best moments of the first half of the Games, the article said.
South Korea finished the Olympics with one gold, one silver and one bronze in snowboarding. It ranked third in the sport behind Japan (four gold, two silver, three bronze) and Austria (two gold, one silver, one bronze), the article said.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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