South Korea's 'Cabbage Boy' Wins Gold Days Before Olympics

South Korea's only Olympic medalist in snow events just proved he's still got it, winning gold by less than the width of a palm.

Lee Sang-ho, affectionately known as "Cabbage Boy," defeated Italy's top-ranked Roland Fischnaller at the FIS Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom World Cup in Slovenia on January 31st. The victory was so close that officials needed a photo finish to confirm Lee's hand had crossed the line first.

The race couldn't have been tighter. After the first run, Lee trailed by 0.16 seconds, then clawed back 0.14 seconds in the second segment. The lead switched back and forth until the final meters, when Lee pushed himself across the finish line just ahead of his competitor.

"Fischnaller is a strong competitor, so I was under a lot of pressure," Lee said after raising both hands in triumph. "I tried to give more than 100% effort."

This marks Lee's first World Cup win since March 2024 and his fourth career gold. The timing couldn't be better as he prepares for the Milan Cortina Olympics, where he hopes to add to the silver medal he won at PyeongChang 2018.

That silver medal made history as South Korea's first Olympic medal in any snow event. Now 31, Lee is showing that age and a two-year gap between victories haven't slowed him down.

Why This Inspires

Lee's comeback story reminds us that peak performance isn't just for the young. After years of pressure as his country's only winter sports medalist, he's found a way to stay competitive against younger athletes while maintaining grace under intense pressure.

His gratitude toward his competitor after such a nail-biting finish shows the spirit that makes sports beautiful. "I'm grateful to Fischnaller for a fantastic race," he said, choosing to celebrate the competition rather than just his own victory.

In a recent interview, Lee promised fans he wanted to show that "Cabbage Boy is still here." With this dramatic gold medal finish just days before the Olympics, he's delivered on that promise in spectacular fashion.