Is "Controversial 4th place ending" the last dance? "I never said that."" Cha Junhwan is going one step at a time [Milan Olympics]

*This content was translated by AI.

"Even before the Olympics started, you said it was the last dance..."

It was a very regrettable competition. Thinking that it might be the last time, the viewers were also more disappointed than Cha Jun-hwan (25, Seoul City Hall). However, Korean figure skating star Cha Jun-hwan shook his head.

Cha Jun-hwan visited the Samsung House in Milan, Italy, on the 16th (Korea Standard Time). He received 181.2 points in the men's single free skate at the 2026 Milan/Cortina D'Ampezzo Winter Olympics, which ended on the 14th, and lost the bronze medal with a final total of 273.92 points, fourth among 24 players, and a gap between third and 0.98 points.

It was painful to receive such a harsh evaluation that even though he performed cleanly in the short program, controversy over the decision arose.

After finishing the competition, Cha Jun-hwan visited the short track stadium in Milan to cheer for Korean players, and on this day, he visited a special space prepared by Samsung, his official partner in the competition, and went on an interview.

Despite having a hard time over the past four years, such as boot problems and injuries, he did not give up until the end and finished the tournament with applause from everyone. Cha Jun-hwan said, "I already had my own dream while participating in the Olympics for the third time, and the position of a senior athlete who has experienced the Olympics twice in the figure skating team gave me the strength to keep going without giving up," adding, "To be honest, there were moments when I had to collapse, but my family and coaches helped me up every time, so I couldn't give up my dream."

Now there are many juniors. Cha Jun-hwan said, "I have a responsibility to think about my junior players and give them courage," adding, "It's an individual event, but I thought that I would have better opportunities for my colleagues and junior players only if I showed myself as a senior and continued to be good." "It was important to compete in a broader perspective beyond individual sports, and this was the Olympics where I felt desperately that this was the spirit of sports," he said.

Cha Jun-hwan, who thanked his family and coach for allowing him to overcome the ordeal, could not easily pick the most decisive moment of the tournament. "I've played three games in this Olympics, and I think it's a 'decisive moment' that can't be left out of all of them," he said. "I went to the team event for the first time in eight years, and I think I've achieved all my goals in the individual event, so I remember a lot."

As he has been running for a long time looking at the Olympics, he is mentally and physically exhausted. Cha Jun-hwan, who said, "I want to rest after the games, said, "There were many injuries and twists and turns in the process of preparing for this Olympics, so the first thing I think of is 'I want to rest' after the games," adding, "I don't think I've ever rested properly after three Olympics." I think I will focus on rest and recovery even when I go to Korea," he said.

There were many expressions of last dance, but Cha Jun-hwan waved his hands repeatedly. "He confirmed that it was the last dance even before the Olympics began, but I've never said that, so I said it exactly," he said. "Even after the Beijing Winter Olympics, I didn't expect four years later. I think I came all the way to Milan after spending one season. It was only in Milan that I began to realize that I came to this Olympics, and since four years is a long time, I can't even imagine the French Alps Olympics right now. I believe that if I continue my life, I will find my 'path'," he left a lingering impression.

As he has participated in the Olympics several times, he could not leave out the story of special edition products that he meets at each competition. "I personally listen to music on my smartphone a lot, but I often used the 'Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition' in the athletes' village again this time," Cha Jun-hwan said. "Foldable (form factor) is convenient, and it is especially good because you can take pictures with the rear camera while looking at the screen when taking pictures."

Cha Jun-hwan, who left a hint about his next Olympic appearance. If we summarize the Olympics in one word, how can we express it to him. Cha Jun-hwan said, "I think it's Piantao. In Spanish, I know it means 'crazy' in Korean, he said. "I have said that I like the lyrics of 'Ballad for a Crazy Man' selected as a pre-program song for this competition." I shout it three times in the lyrics, and I like it because it feels very sincere and honest."

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*This content was translated by AI.