Korean Snowboarder Choi Ga-on Wins Historic Olympic Gold with CJ Backing

TEAM CJ athlete Choi Ga-on, sponsored by CJ Group, has delivered Korea's first-ever Olympic gold medal in snow sports.

Choi scored 90.25 points to defeat defending champion Chloe Kim of the United States, who earned 88.00 points, in the women's snowboard halfpipe final at Livigno Snowpark in Italy on February 13.

The victory marks South Korea's first gold medal at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. At 17 years and 3 months old, Choi becomes the youngest Olympic snowboard gold medalist in history.

Behind her achievement stands CJ's unwavering support since 2023, rooted in the company's "Dream Keeper" philosophy.

CJ first recognized Choi's potential after her victory at the 2022 FIS Junior World Championships. The conglomerate began sponsoring her individually while she was still in middle school in 2023.

When a back fracture during training in Switzerland in 2024 forced her to undergo surgery and rehabilitation, causing her to miss the Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics, CJ continued its support without hesitation.

The company fully funded her overseas expeditions throughout the year, enabling access to halfpipe training facilities and competitions worldwide.

"Due to the nature of my sport, I need to train abroad frequently," Choi said. "Thanks to CJ's support, I was able to train in the same environment as foreign athletes around the world."

A CJ representative said: "We are thrilled that Choi Ga-on demonstrated an unwavering spirit of challenge and achieved an Olympic gold medal. We will continue to provide full support so that promising athletes can pursue their bold challenges toward becoming global number one."