Korea's First Gold Medalist Choi Ga-on Receives Luxury Watch from Omega

Choi Ga-on (Sehwa Girls' High School), who delivered the first gold medal to the Korean delegation at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics, received a luxury wristwatch from official Olympic timekeeper Omega.

Omega announced on the 15th (Korea time) that it presented Choi with the Olympic commemorative edition "Speedmaster 38mm Milan-Cortina 2026" at the Omega House in Milan, Italy.

Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO of Omega, personally presented the watch to Choi.

Omega had announced it would gift an Olympic edition watch to the first Korean individual gold medalist at this Winter Olympics regardless of gender, and Choi claimed the honor.

On the 13th, Choi won gold in the women's snowboard halfpipe final, staging a dramatic come-from-behind victory.

"I still can't believe I won gold, and receiving such a meaningful gift from Omega is truly an honor," Choi said. "I will cherish this moment and continue to be an athlete who keeps challenging myself."

Omega has held Olympic edition watch presentation ceremonies at six Olympics: the 2012 London Summer Games, 2014 Sochi Winter Games, 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games, 2022 Beijing Winter Games, 2024 Paris Summer Games, and now the Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics.

Jin Jong-oh (shooting) was the first to receive a watch at the 2012 London Games. Subsequent recipients include Lee Sang-hwa (speed skating, 2014 Sochi), the men's archery team (2016 Rio), Hwang Dae-heon and Choi Min-jeong (short track, 2022 Beijing), Oh Sang-uk (fencing) and Oh Ye-jin (shooting, 2024 Paris), and Choi Ga-on (snowboard, 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo).