Behind the 'Choi Gaon Miracle' is → 'Dongbin hyung' '+10 years' of Lotte 'Unexpected support... It wasn't just a good thing to come out' [Milan Olympics]

*This content was translated by AI.

Choi Ga-on (18, Sehwa Girls' High School), a "snowboard hopeful," gave the Korean team its first gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina D'Ampezzo. It is a splendid feat following Kim Sang-gyeom (37, High1)'s silver medal in the men's parallel competition on the 8th and Yoo Seung-eun (18, Sehwa Girls' High School)'s bronze medal in the women's big air on the 10th. And the background of the Korean snow sports achievement was the exceptional support from Lotte and Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin.

Choi Ga-on, a "genius high school girl," topped the podium with a high score of 90.25 in the women's halfpipe final held at Lvigno Snowpark in Italy on the 13th. It is the first Olympic gold medal in Korean snow history.

According to News 1 on the 13th, behind the poor domestic snow infrastructure was the full support of Lotte Group and Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, the chairman of the Korea Ski and Snowboard Association.

Lotte has been making long-term investments for more than a decade since it took over as chairman of the association in 2014. In particular, Chairman Shin directly served as the chairman of the association for four years from 2014, leading the expansion of the base of unpopular events and strengthening the competitiveness of national representatives.

Lotte has so far invested more than 30 billion won in ski and snowboarding, and the amount of investment for the success of the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics is reported to exceed 80 billion won.

In order to motivate athletes, the association expanded the rules on rewards so that not only medal rights but also rewards fourth- to sixth-place athletes at international competitions such as the Olympics, World Championships, and World Cups could be given. He also took the lead in learning an international sense through technological exchanges with ski associations in advanced countries such as the United States, Canada, and Finland, which are powerhouses in snow sports.

Chairman Shin, who enjoys skiing himself, put his life and death into "fostering dream trees" by reflecting the voices of the field. It has established a systematic support system that encompasses not only national teams but also youth and gifted athletes.

In 2022, the Lotte Ski & Snowboard Team was established to provide practical support. In addition to training expenses and equipment support, customized educational programs such as psychological care, foreign language learning, and health care were provided to the players. It is also characterized by the introduction of a dedicated manager system and careful management of the schedule of the competition from visa issuance.

The effort proved to be the first silver medal for snowboarder Lee Sang-ho at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. Since then, the players of the association have stood out on various international stages.

At last year's Harbin Winter Asian Games, Lee Seung-hoon won a gold medal in the free skiing event. Izzio won a bronze medal in the snowboard halfpipe. At the International Ski Federation World Championships held in March, Jung Dae-yoon, who competed in the Moggle category, won the bronze medal. Since its inception, it has won a total of 24 medals in major international competitions, rapidly boosting the competitiveness of Korean snow sports.

He was also active in managing individual players' crises. Chairman Shin provided 70 million won in medical expenses to Choi Ga-on, who was on the operating table due to a back injury in 2024. At the time, Choi Ga-on personally sent a thank-you handwritten letter to Chairman Shin, eventually producing the best result of winning the first gold medal in the snow sports.

At this Olympics, Lotte and the Korea Ski Association set up a base camp in Lvigno, Lombardy, Italy, where most snow events are held. The Korea Ski Association has been providing support by setting up a base camp for major competitions such as the 2025 Harbin Winter Asian Games after operating a base camp exclusively for Korean players in Innsbruck, Austria in 2023.

In addition, Lotte and the association delivered letters and small gifts in the name of Chairman Shin to medalists such as Kim Sang-gyeom and Yoo Seung-eun. To Kim Sang-gyeom, "It feels more meaningful because it is a fruit that Kim won without giving up. I will support the future even more," he congratulated, and reportedly told Yoo Seung-eun, "I am more happy with the news of the medal I won after overcoming a series of injuries, and I will continue to provide generous support."

Chairman Shin received a plaque of appreciation on the 16th of last month in recognition of his multi-faceted and long-term support for the growth and competitiveness of Korean winter sports. At the time, Chairman Shin said, "Lotte has continued to provide generous support to expand the base of snow sports in Korea, foster prospects, and improve players' skills," adding, "As Korean athletes have been doing well in the snow events of international competitions, I hope all players will perform well at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics."

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*This content was translated by AI.