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Para biathlete Kim Yun-ji doesn't miss chance to make history with gold

Published: 09 Mar. 2026, 16:06 Updated: 09 Mar. 2026, 16:38

Kim Yun-ji smiles after winning gold in the para biathlon women's individual sitting event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Tesero, Italy, on March 8. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

TESERO, Italy — Kim Yun-ji won gold in the para biathlon women's individual sitting at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics on Sunday.

The victory made Kim the first Korean female athlete to win a medal in an individual event at a Winter Paralympics.

The 19-year-old finished with a time of 38:00.1 at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Tesero, Italy.

Germany’s Anja Wicker won the silver medal with a time of 38:12.9 while Kendall Gretsch of the United States claimed bronze with 38:36.1. Oksana Masters of the United States, a Paralympic veteran with 20 medals, placed fourth in 38:47.9.

Kim’s result also marked only the second gold medal won by a Korean athlete in Winter Paralympics history. Sin Eui-hyun previously won gold in men’s sitting para cross-country skiing at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.

Kim Yun-ji competesin the para biathlon women's individual sitting event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Tesero, Italy, on March 8. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Kang Mi-suk won silver in the wheelchair curling mixed team event at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, but Kim is the first Korean female athlete to reach the podium in an individual event.

Kim, known for her strong skiing, led the race until the first shooting stage. After hitting all five targets, she maintained the lead but dropped to fifth after missing two shots in the second shooting stage. Kim then hit all remaining targets and moved back into first place during the final lap, crossing the finish line ahead of the field.

Kim Yun-ji competes in the para biathlon women's individual sitting event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Tesero, Italy, on March 8. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Kim was born in June 2006 with spina bifida myelomeningocele, a congenital condition in which the spinal cord and surrounding membranes do not fully close during fetal development, often resulting in paralysis or mobility impairment in the lower body. Kim began swimming at the age of 3 for rehabilitation and began competing in para sports seriously in the third grade of elementary school.

She first pursued swimming as an elite athlete but began Nordic skiing in 2020 in the final year of middle school. Kim became the first athlete to win both the rookie award and the most valuable player award at the National Para Games in both the summer and winter editions.

Kim rose to global prominence in March of last year after winning the women’s sprint sitting classic in para cross-country skiing at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships Trondheim 2025. Kim entered the Paralympics as a strong medal contender but finished fourth in the women’s individual sitting in para biathlon on Sunday after struggling in the shooting stages.

Kim Yun-ji competes in the para biathlon women's individual sitting event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Tesero, Italy, on March 8. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Kim returned in the second race to claim gold and write a new chapter in Korean para sports history.

She is also focused on academics. Kim enrolled last year in the Department of Adapted Physical Education at the Korea National Sport University, which trains special education teachers for students with disabilities. Kim ranked first in the department during the first semester of her first year.

Kim Yun-ji holds up the gold medal during the medal ceremony for the para biathlon women's individual sitting event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Tesero, Italy, on March 8. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

“I took a leave of absence last semester to prepare for the Paralympics, but I want to achieve both strong grades and athletic success,” she stated before the Games.

Kim will also attempt to win a second gold medal at the Games. Para cross-country skiing, which does not include shooting, could offer another chance for a podium finish.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KIM HYO-KYOUNG [[email protected]]