Victory by 0.19 Seconds: Veteran Player Overpowered
South Korea's snowboard team achieved an emotional victory at the 2026 Milano-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics. The men's parallel giant slalom final held at Livigno Snowpark in Italy on the 8th was a compelling competition that showcased the athletes' concentration and skill. Kim Sang-gyum, who overcame the crisis of being ranked 18th in qualifying to reach the final, demonstrated world-class abilities.
His final opponent was 41-year-old veteran Benjamin Karl, a gold medalist at the 2010 Vancouver and 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Karl, known as the 'Snowboard Emperor,' has proven expertise on the international stage. Kim got off to a strong start in the early stages of the competition, but a slight slip in the middle of the race resulted in a narrow second-place finish, losing by just 0.19 seconds. This close margin demonstrated that both athletes performed at their highest level.
Although Kim missed the gold medal, his silver is historically significant—it's the second medal in Korean snowboarding history and South Korea's 400th winter sports medal overall. This is expected to be recorded as a meaningful milestone in the development of Korean winter sports.
From Sickly Child to Athlete, and Facing Reality's Barriers
Kim Sang-gyum's athletic career began with health challenges. Suffering from severe asthma symptoms in childhood, he started running to improve his physical health. This led to a fateful encounter with snowboarding during middle school, where he discovered a new dream.
However, the reality faced by athletes in unpopular sports was harsh. After college graduation, in an era when corporate teams supporting snowboarders were scarce, Kim had no choice but to take on construction labor to cover training and living expenses. During the snowboarding off-season in April and on weekends, he worked grueling jobs carrying cement bags at construction sites while nurturing his Olympic dreams.
During these difficult times, Kim developed a drinking habit as a coping mechanism, sometimes consuming four bottles of soju a day. However, realizing he needed to change his lifestyle to reach higher goals, he made the bold decision to quit drinking and began managing himself better.
Transformation After Joining Korea's First Snowboard Corporate Team
A crucial turning point came in Kim's life when he joined High1, Korea's first snowboard corporate team. With stable financial support and systematic training environments in place, his skills began developing rapidly despite being in his mid-30s.
Understanding the importance of an environment focused solely on training and self-management, Kim created and followed a rigorous daily routine. He woke up at 6:30 a.m. every morning to train and spent two hours each evening analyzing competition videos of world-class athletes like Benjamin Karl, which was crucial in identifying his weaknesses and improving his technique.
His physical management was equally thorough. He maintained 10 hours of sleep daily as an absolute principle to keep optimal condition—a testament to his passion and self-discipline, making one forget he was in his late 30s. This continuous self-management and effort culminated in the Olympic silver medal.
Beautiful Fruit Born from Perseverance and Effort
Kim Sang-gyum's achievement at this Olympics transcends the simple value of a medal. His perseverance not to give up through four Olympic challenges finally bore fruit. Every drop of sweat shed at construction sites was not wasted—it returned as achievements on the world stage.
This story is touching many people. It demonstrates that despite Korea's sports reality where pursuing dreams in unpopular sports while maintaining a livelihood is difficult, individuals can still achieve results on the international stage through personal effort and determination. The Olympic medal achieved at age 37 has become more than personal success—it stands as proof of the potential for development in Korean winter sports.
This content is general information compiled based on publicly available materials. Please verify accurate details through official announcements from relevant organizations.
