"Refuse to go to the hospital." Choi Gaon said, "I moved my toes first" I couldn't even walk, but after 30 minutes, the world's top player is "revealing the behind-the-scenes story." [Milan Field Questions and Answers]

*This content was translated by AI.

Choi Ga-on (18, Sehwa Girls' High School), the "Snowboard Halfpipe Queen," revealed all the processes of winning the gold medal.

Choi Ga-on's press conference to commemorate the gold medal at the 2026 Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics was held on the 14th (local time) in Milan, Italy, where the Olympic "Korea House" is running.

Choi Ga-on scored 90.25 points in the women's halfpipe final at the Lvigno Snowpark in Italy on the 13th, beating his idol Chloe Kim (88.00 points in the United States).

With this, Choi Ga-on wrote a new history of the first Winter Olympics gold medal in Korean ski and snowboarding history. Choi Ga-on, who was born in November 2008, also broke Chloe Kim's record for the youngest gold medal in the event (17 years and 10 months) at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.

Choi Ga-on said, "It hasn't been long since I won a medal, so it still feels like a dream and it doesn't feel real. I'm enjoying this moment," he said, expressing his feelings about winning the gold medal.

The story of winning the gold medal was also like a movie. Choi Ga-on slipped heavily during the first period, which began under unfavorable conditions of heavy snow, and could not get up for a while. Fortunately, he came down on his own, wiping away tears, but he fell in the second period as if he had an abnormality in his physical condition. However, he won in the final third period, succeeding in all his skills.

Regarding the situation in which he declared and reversed his withdrawal (DNS) in the second period and won the upset in the third period, he said, "The coach discouraged me to withdraw because I couldn't even walk, but I insisted that I would play unconditionally. "I moved thinking, 'Let's walk with our teeth clenched,' and my legs got a little better, so I withdrew and ran again," he said.

When asked what it means to beat Chloe Kim and win the gold medal, he said, "Before the start of the match, I was so complicated that I wanted Chloe, whom I respect, to win the gold medal. I was happy to surpass him, but on the other hand, I felt a little disappointed and sorry," he said, expressing respect.

He also voiced the support needed for the development of snowboarding in Korea and changes in the environment. Choi Ga-on said, "There is only one halfpipe stadium in Korea, and it's a shame that even that is not perfect. I hope that there will be an air mat facility in Korea where you can train in summer like in Japan, so that you can train for a long time in Korea without going abroad," he said.

-How do you feel about winning the gold medal and your plans for the future?

▶I'm happy to have a long congratulatory message to my family, and I'm also grateful to my friends and colleagues for congratulating me. When I go to Korea, I try to relax with my family and think about what I will do. It hasn't been long since I won a medal, so it still feels like a dream and it doesn't feel real. Now I'm enjoying this moment.

-How did Chloe Kim feel when she hugged her right after the game?

▶When Chloe hugged me tightly, I felt a strange feeling and emotion that I was happy but exceeded my sister. I burst into tears because he was the one who usually said a lot of good things as a mentor.

-He declared the withdrawal (DNS) in the second period, reversed it, and won the come-from-behind victory in the third period. What was the situation at the time?

▶Coach discouraged me to withdraw because I couldn't even walk, but I insisted that I would play unconditionally. When I moved thinking, "Let's walk with our teeth," my legs got a little better, so I withdrew and ran again.

-What would you like to say to young prospects who dream of snowboarding?

▶It is most important to enjoy riding the snowboard halfpipe. I hope you enjoy riding without getting hurt.

-How are you feeling now? Do you have any hobbies other than snowboarding?

▶The knee that hurt during the game has improved a lot. However, the wrist that was injured before the Olympics has not healed yet, so I think I should go to Korea and check it out. I don't have any hobbies, but I used to enjoy skateboarding before the Olympics.

-Do you usually enjoy the game or ride it with pressure?

▶When I was young, I had a lot of fun. As the Olympics approached, there was a lot of pressure and tension, but I think the good result came out because I tried to enjoy it as much as I could.

-She beat her idol Chloe Kim to win the gold medal. What does it mean?

▶Before the start of the match, I was so complicated that I wanted Chloe, whom I respect, to win the gold medal. I was happy that I surpassed him, but on the other hand, I felt a little disappointed and sorry.

-What would you say about your relationship with your father and your sponsors?

▶My dad quit his job and walked down this road with me. I fought a lot and almost quit, but I was able to come here because of my dad's support without giving up. Thank you so much. I would also like to thank sponsors such as CJ Bibigo for taking care of food, Lotte for supporting me when I was in trouble, and Shinhan for silently supporting me.

-What are the remaining schedules or plans in Milan?

▶Milano is good, but now I really want to go to Korea. I am leaving tomorrow evening, and I want to go to Korea and eat delicious food that my grandmother makes.

-Why do you think Korean snowboarding was strong in this competition?

▶I think it's thanks to hard work. Although they were less interested than other events, the players worked harder than anyone else, resulting in good results.

-Is there any support or environmental change needed for the development of snowboarding in Korea?

▶There is only one halfpipe stadium in Korea, and it's too bad that it's not perfect. I hope that there will be an air mat facility in Korea where you can train in summer like in Japan, so that you can train for a long time in Korea without going abroad.

-peaked at a young age. What's your goal for the future?

▶It's an honor to be able to achieve my dream quickly. Rather than aiming far away, I want to focus on training right in front of me and become a better rider than now.

-Right after the award ceremony, they gave the coach a gold medal?

▶I didn't seem to be able to express my gratitude to the American coach even if I won the World Cup. I wanted to express my feelings clearly through this Olympics, so I gave you a medal.

-What do you want to do with your friends when you go back to Korea?

▶I decided to celebrate the very next day with my friends by having a pajama party.

-How do you feel about the reward and the watch you received for your injury?

▶I'm so honored to receive an excessive prize and a watch. I'll wear my watch well.

-What's something you've become the best in the world but want to complement?

▶This Olympic run was not perfect by my standards. I want to improve my skills more, and mentally, I want to get rid of the habit of being nervous during matches.

-Wasn't the media's attention before the competition burdensome?

▶At first, I felt burdened and ashamed, but I changed it to a positive force thinking that you are paying this much attention to me.

-In the third period of playing with injuries, how did you feel?

▶I fell hard in the first and second rounds and was sick, but I wasn't nervous in the third round. My coach told me to give up if I was sick, but since it's the Olympics, I wanted to complete my acting, so I rode it until the end. I succeeded in pain and ended with tears of emotion.

-Isn't it scary because it's an event with a big risk of injury?

▶I was fearless since I was young. Above all, it seems that the desire to win wins over fear. Growing up with my sister and brother, I became more competitive.

-What did you think about when you fell and lay down for a long time during the first period?

▶I thought I had to get up again, but my legs didn't work. The medical staff said they had to go to the hospital, but they asked for time because they thought they would regret it for the rest of their lives if they gave up here. I tried to regain my senses by moving from my toes, and I was able to come back down with strength in my legs.

-It was a snowy day, so did it affect the game?

▶I had more snow during the X game, so this snow was not affected much. Rather, it was so pretty because it snowed a lot when entering the stadium, and it also snowed at the awards ceremony, so I enjoyed laughing with Chloe.

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*This content was translated by AI.