Home > Sports > Olympic Sports

Jung fails to finish giant slalom as snow disrupts race

Published: 13 Feb. 2022, 18:28

Jung Dong-hyun passes a gate during the first run of the men's giant slalom at the 2022 Winter Olympics on Sunday at National Alpine Skiing Centre, Yanqing district, Beijing. [AP/YONHAP]

Alpine skier Jung Dong-hyun was unable to finish the men’s giant slalom on Sunday due to weather conditions.

At Yanqing Alpine Skiing Center, heavy snow had been falling since Saturday, delaying the second run of the men’s giant slalom for an hour and 15 minutes on Sunday and also cancelling the second women’s downhill training run scheduled later in the evening.

Jung started 36th out of a total of 89 athletes with a start time of 17.64 seconds, but dropped out of the race during his first run alongside 32 other competitors.

The delayed second run went ahead in low-visibility conditions, with skiers dashing through the flurries. Marco Odermatt of Switzerland won gold and Zan Kranjec of Slovenia won silver while Mathieu Faivre of France won the bronze medal.

The snowfall over the weekend marked the first time it has actually snowed during an alpine skiing race at the Beijing Olympics.

Korea has never won a medal in alpine skiing, but Jung is giving it a good try. The Beijing Games is his fourth Olympics, having competed at the 2010 Vancouver Games, 2014 Sochi Games and 2018 PyeongChang Games.

Jung will compete in the men’s slalom race on Wednesday.

BY YUN SO-HYANG [[email protected]]