Korea Deploys VR, Digital Twin Technology to Prepare Athletes for Milan-Cortina 2026

At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Team Korea fell short of expectations with nine medals (two gold, five silver, two bronze) and a 14th-place overall finish. The four years since have been a period of intense reflection and improvement. To avoid repeating the Beijing disappointment, the team pursued qualitative growth across all areas including training methods, physical conditioning, and psychological management. At the center of this effort stands the Korea Institute of Sport Science (KISS), leading what has been called "K-Sports Science."

"While it varies by sport, we have provided support for Winter Olympic events ranging from several months to one or two years," said Jeon Jae-yeon, director of the National Team Support Center at KISS, on the 12th. "Compared to the Beijing Games four years ago, we have delivered more systematic and diverse support to athletes and coaches."

KISS dispatched doctoral-level researchers to major sports including short track, speed skating, and curling to provide scientific assistance. For short track, the institute leveraged cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and big data to support not only training and competition but also daily life and mental management outside the arena.

Speed skating, a timed sport where the slightest movement can determine victory, received both technical support and psychological management. The "slide board" for correcting skating posture drew particularly positive feedback. The system monitors movement and foot pressure distribution in real time during skating motions, allowing athletes to immediately check propulsion posture, pressure distribution patterns, and center-of-gravity shifts.

The team also conducted detailed analysis of the Milano Speed Skating Stadium, the venue for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Researchers visited the arena, reviewed and filmed the interior environment, then created a virtual environment using digital twin technology. They added the stadium announcer's voice and crowd noise to recreate the atmosphere, enabling national team athletes to experience the venue environment in advance through VR.

For curling, psychological support received the greatest attention. The team utilized sports psychology science equipment including eye trackers, VR, and psychological measurement tools. Researchers analyzed each athlete's gaze patterns and cognitive processing characteristics, enhancing adaptability to actual competition situations through VR-based cognitive and concentration training.

"If the national team achieves good results at this competition, it will be the sweat and tears of the athletes and the long efforts of coaches who supported them that truly shine," said Dr. Kim Yong-se, who led speed skating support. "The support team only provided a small contribution to their efforts."