A past television appearance by Choi Ga-on, who recently made history with a gold medal in Korean snowboarding, is gaining renewed attention.
On the 13th (KST), Choi Ga-on won a gold medal in the women’s snowboard halfpipe event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics held at Livigno Snowpark, Italy.
This marks Korea’s first gold medal in a snow event at the Winter Olympics, a significant achievement for Korean snowboarding, a sport that has long pushed its limits.
Following this achievement, Choi Ga-on’s earlier television appearance is once again drawing attention. In 2017, she featured on SBS’s ‘What on Earth Happened?’, where she displayed exceptional talent at a young age.
The program featured her entire family, including her father and her youngest sibling, then 33 months old, at a ski resort together. Viewers were captivated by the sight of young Choi enjoying snowboarding amidst her large family’s support.
At just 9 years old, she impressed with her stable balance and daring techniques, unusual for her age. Her small frame navigating the course was an early sign of her promising potential. The studio panelists expressed their admiration, saying, “Her skills are great,” and “She rides so well.”
Netizens who watched the video shared comments like, “The 9-year-old girl becomes an Olympic gold medalist in 9 years,” “Congratulations on the gold medal,” “I came here on a pilgrimage,” “The 9-year-old girl becomes a sports legend in Korea,” and “She was different from a young age,” sparking widespread discussion.
The juxtaposition of her youthful past in the broadcast and her current status as a confident champion adds to the emotion.
Choi Ga-on’s journey, steadily honing her talent and effort from a young age, culminated in an Olympic gold medal, solidifying her as another inspiring sports story.
Image source: Choi Ga-on, SBS ‘What on Earth Happened?’, Yonhap News
