On the first day of medal events at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on February 7, South Korea was eliminated from the figure skating team event after finishing seventh. However, in mixed doubles curling, Kim Seon-yeong and Jeong Yeong-seok defeated the United States 6-5 in an extra end for their first win, snapping a five-match losing streak.
The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics began medal competitions on February 7, one day after the opening ceremony, and South Korea faced mixed results. In the figure skating team event, the country finished seventh with 14 points after the short programs and rhythm dance, failing to advance to the free programs where only the top five of the 10 teams proceed.
Cha Jun-hwan placed eighth in the men's singles short program with 83.53 points, earning three ranking points despite a wobbly performance including a missed double axel. The ice dance pair of Hannah Lim and Quan Ye scored four points, while Shin Ji-a added seven in the women's singles on Friday. Lacking a pairs team disadvantaged South Korea from the start, yielding zero points in that discipline.
In contrast, the mixed doubles curling team of Kim Seon-yeong and Jeong Yeong-seok secured South Korea's first Olympic victory by upsetting the United States 6-5 in an extra end at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d'Ampezzo, about 400 kilometers northeast of Milan. This win ended a five-match losing streak against Sweden, Italy, Switzerland, Britain, and earlier that day, the Czech Republic (9-4 loss).
Against the U.S., South Korea led 2-0 after two ends, traded points over the next four to hold a 5-2 edge entering the final end. The Americans rallied with three points via Thiesse's promotion takeout to force extra time, but Kim's draw on her final stone clinched the victory. With a 1-5 record and last place, South Korea must win its remaining three round-robin matches against Estonia, Canada, and Norway for a semifinal chance.
The day's first golds went to Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen in men's alpine skiing downhill and Italy's Francesca Lollobrigida in women's 3,000-meter speed skating with an Olympic-record 3:54.28 on her 35th birthday.
