Choi Ga-on’s Gold Medal: A Scientific Analysis of Halfpipe Snowboarding

By Emily Cho ‘27

The gold-medal performance of athlete Choi Ga-on at the 2026 Milan–Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics women’s snowboard halfpipe marked the first-ever gold medal for South Korea in snow sports and set the record for youngest gold medalist. The performance represents not only athletic exceptionality but also functions as a remarkable model in the application of psychics principles: after suffering from falls in her two initial runs, Choi executed a final performance that combined skillful control of energy, angular momentum, and velocity to achieve a winning score of 90.25 points. Examining her performance through psychics provides insight into the underlying factors that enabled the run to be successful.

The halfline is a U-shaped vertical snow track that allows athletes to transition repeatedly from one wall to the other while performing aerial maneuvers. Since athletes generate motion along the pipe’s slope, launching into the air to perform techniques, the key variables include wall height, slope, curvature, and friction. Choi’s final run utilized a maximum wall height of about 4.2m, which allowed sufficient energy buildup for multiple rotations.

One crucial component is energy transformation. At the sumit of the wall, the snowboarder has a potential energy of PE = mgh. Assuming Choi’s mass m = 50kg and the gravitational acceleration of g = 9.81 m/s^2, PE = 50 x 9.81 x 4.2 = 2058 J. As she descended, this potential energy would have converted into kinetic energy of KE = 1/2mv^2. Here, solving for velocity, v = √(2KE)/m = √(2 x 2058)/50 = 9.07 m/s. Through this speed, she was able to produce the necessary height for aerial rotations. The timing of kinetic and potential energy transitions is critical, as insufficient height or speed lowers the rotational amplitude.

Equally significant is the angular momentum conservation principle L = Iw (I = moment of inertia,

w = angular velocity), which governs rotational motion. Choi’s aerial rotations, including her multiple 900-degree spins, relied on the adjustment of body configuration to control rotational speed. By bringing her limbs to her center of mass, she increased rotational velocity and decreased her moment of inertia; extending her limbs mitigated the speed of rotation for precise landings. Choi completed this rotation in 0.8 seconds of air time, demonstrating dexterous control.

Finally, environmental factors further influence performance. Snow conditions provide additional resistance which can be determined by frictional force f = μmg, with μ = 0.05. As in Choi’s circumstances f = 0.05 x 50 x 9.81 = 24.5N. Maintaining speed while counteracting this force and preparing for each takeoff requires balance and proprioceptive adjustments, allowing her to absorb forces on landing.

Choi Ga-on’s gold medal is therefore more than a mere testament to athletic ability; it is also a practical demonstration of psychics. The effective use of energy conservation, angular momentum, and environmental circumstances demonstrates the interplay between human capability and natural laws. Choi’s performance serves as a compelling display that at the highest levels of sport, scientific principles are not merely theoretical but actively dictate results, and her accomplishment exemplifies how understanding and applying these principles can produce extraordinary results.

References: 

The Asia Business Daily. (2026). [Pushing Through the Worst… Choi Gaon Finally Rises to the Top] [Image]. The Asia Business Daily (Asiae). https://flexible.img.hani.co.kr/flexible/normal/970/538/imgdb/original/2026/0213/1517709715147886.webp

Asia Economy (Asiae). (2026). [Choi Gaon performing on the half‑pipe at 2026 Winter Olympics] [Image]. Asiae. https://cphoto.asiae.co.kr/listimglink/1/2026021308141841458_1770938059.jpg

Wired. (2021). [Illustration related to half‑pipe physics] [Image]. Wired. https://media.wired.com/photos/5a6a74eb3766960ab49fc4cd/3:2/w_2560%2Cc_limit/0218-WI-APCORK-web.jpg

Image 1: The Hankyoreh. (2026). [Pushing through the worst: Choi Gaon finally rises to the top] [Image]. The Asia Business Daily. https://flexible.img.hani.co.kr/flexible/normal/970/538/imgdb/original/2026/0213/1517709715147886.webp

Image 2: Asia Economy. (2026). [Choi Gaon performing a skateboarding trick in competition] [Image]. The Asia Business Daily. https://cphoto.asiae.co.kr/listimglink/1/2026021308141841458_1770938059.jpg

Image 3: Wired. (2018). [Half-pipe physics demonstration in skateboarding] [Image]. Wired. https://media.wired.com/photos/5a6a74eb3766960ab49fc4cd/3:2/w_2560%2Cc_limit/0218-WI-APCORK-web.jpg