"Milano Green Light" Sangho Lee Wins FIS World Cup Ahead of Olympics

Sangho Lee, who serves as the men's team captain for the Korean delegation at the 2026 Milano-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics, claimed victory at the last International Ski Federation (FIS) Snowboard World Cup before the Olympics.

On the 31st (local time), Lee won the men's parallel giant slalom at the 2025-2026 FIS Snowboard World Cup held in Rogla, Slovenia. This marks Lee's fourth FIS World Cup gold medal. He previously won gold at Bannoye, Russia in November 2021, Pamporovo, Bulgaria in January 2024, and Winterberg, Germany in March 2024.

Sangho Lee is cheering after winning the men's parallel giant slalom at the 2025-2026 FIS Snowboard World Cup held in Rogla, Slovenia on the 31st (local time).
Photo by International Ski Federation website

Lee advanced to the finals after finishing second overall in the qualifiers among 56 competitors. He then defeated Dario Caviezel of Switzerland in the round of 16, Gabriel Messner of Italy in the quarterfinals, and Tim Mastnak of Slovenia in the semifinals.

In the final, Lee narrowly edged out 45-year-old veteran Roland Fischnaller of Italy, who had already secured three World Cup victories this season, after a photo finish review to claim the championship.

This was Lee's first time on the World Cup podium in about 11 months, since winning a silver medal in the parallel giant slalom in Krynica, Poland in March last year.

On his social media, Lee shared, "I always wanted to repay those who believe in and support me not just with the process, but with results. Although there were always some regrets, I am truly happy to finally deliver good news ahead of the Olympics." He added, "Now that my preparations for the Olympics are complete, I will carry this momentum onto the Olympic stage and show a performance with no regrets."

Lee is the first Olympic medalist in Korean ski and snowboard history. He won a silver medal in the men's parallel giant slalom at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and is set to compete in the same event at the Milano-Cortina d'Ampezzo Olympics.

Sangkyum Kim, who also competed in the men's parallel giant slalom, finished in fifth place. The men's parallel giant slalom event at the Winter Olympics, featuring both Lee and Kim, will take place on the 8th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.