MILAN – Yu Seung-eun, an 18-year-old South Korean snowboarder, has quickly become a name to watch in the world of winter sports, securing a bronze medal in the women’s big air event at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Her journey to the podium is particularly remarkable given the unconventional path she took to snowboarding and the significant challenges she overcame in the year leading up to the Games.
Yu’s story isn’t one of a lifelong dedication to the slopes. In fact, snowboarding wasn’t her initial passion. She was initially drawn to table tennis, with aspirations of becoming a competitive junior player. However, a chance enrollment in a snowboarding camp by her mother, Lee Hee-jeong, during elementary school altered the course of her athletic career. While initially hesitant, Yu eventually embraced the sport, a decision she now acknowledges as pivotal.
“Now that I am here, I am glad I made that switch to snowboarding,” Yu said at a press conference for South Korean journalists in Milan on . She competed in both the big air and slopestyle events, basing herself in Livigno, approximately 140 kilometers north of Milan.
The road to Olympic success wasn’t without its obstacles. Throughout , Yu battled a series of debilitating injuries, including a broken ankle, a dislocated elbow and a fractured wrist. These setbacks occurred starting in late , and would have been enough to derail many athletes’ careers. During her rehabilitation, Yu admitted to questioning her commitment to the sport.
“But throughout 2025, it was just a series of thoughts, like, ‘I shouldn’t have picked up snowboarding,’” Yu confessed. “I didn’t really have a say when my mom put me in that camp. I was so young back then.”
Despite these doubts, Yu persevered, fueled by a belief in her ability to overcome adversity. “Although I was in a dark place at the moment, I believed there would be light at the end of the tunnel and the sun will rise again,” she explained. She credits the support of others as crucial to her recovery and success.
Yu’s bronze medal-winning performance in the women’s big air final was a testament to her resilience and skill. She landed a frontside triple cork 1440 – a highly complex maneuver – during her run, propelling her into first place at the time. Her final combined score across two runs was 171.00, securing Korea’s first-ever medal in the event and the first medal in the history of Korean women’s snowboarding.
The victory holds particular significance for Yu, who expressed remorse for the frustration she sometimes directed towards her parents during her recovery. “I’ve complained way too much to my parents over the past year,” she said. “Whenever they said anything, I got irritated first. I’m really sorry.”
Yu’s achievement is even more notable considering her lack of traditional sponsorship and coaching. According to reports, she currently operates without personal sponsors or a dedicated coach, relying on the financial support of her father’s income and her mother’s part-time earnings. This makes her success a remarkable display of self-reliance and determination.
The win has already garnered significant recognition, with reports indicating a 100 million won bonus for her historic bronze medal. Yu’s story resonates beyond the realm of snowboarding, serving as an inspiration to aspiring athletes and a testament to the power of perseverance. Her unexpected journey from table tennis to Olympic glory highlights the unpredictable nature of athletic careers and the importance of embracing new opportunities.
Looking ahead, Yu Seung-eun’s future in snowboarding appears bright. Her talent, combined with her unwavering spirit, positions her as a potential force in the sport for years to come. The switch from table tennis, initially imposed by her mother, has ultimately led her to Olympic success, a journey she now embraces with gratitude and a renewed sense of purpose.
