Kim Yun-ji wins gold in women’s sitting biathlon at Winter Paralympics 2026, creates unique record for South Korea on International Women’s Day

South Korean para athlete Kim Yun-ji created history after winning the women’s sitting biathlon sprint 12.5km at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Italy. The 19-year-old finished the race in 38 minutes and 00.1 seconds at the Tesero Cross-Country Stadium. Her remarkable performance made her the first Korean woman to win a gold medal in an individual event in Winter Paralympic history. The young star delivered a calm and strong race. She faced tough competition from other experienced athletes. The victory also marked a historic moment for South Korea in the Winter Paralympics. It was the country’s first gold medal at an overseas Winter Paralympic Games and the first Winter Paralympic gold in eight years. The last time South Korea won gold at the Games was when Shin Eui-hyun triumphed in cross-country skiing at the 2018 Winter Paralympics. Kim’s success has now placed her among the brightest stars of para winter sports. ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available.Kim Yun-ji delivered an impressive race in the women’s sitting biathlon sprint 12.5km. She completed the course in 38:00.1 and finished ahead of Germany’s Anja Wicker by 12.8 seconds. The bronze medal went to the United States’ Kendall Gretsch, who finished 36 seconds behind the Korean champion. Biathlon is a demanding winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Athletes must ski across long distances and stop several times to shoot targets. In the 12.5km individual race, competitors shoot five times in four stages. Every missed shot results in a one-minute penalty added to their total time. Because of this, accuracy and endurance are both crucial to success.Just a day before winning gold, Kim had a disappointing result in the women’s sitting biathlon sprint 7.5km. She finished fourth after making several mistakes in the shooting rounds. However, the teenager quickly recovered. She showed great focus in the longer race. Her improved shooting and strong skiing speed helped her secure the historic victory.Kim Yun-ji is competing in both biathlon and cross-country skiing at the Games. She is scheduled to take part in the cross-country events starting on March 10. With four more events remaining, the young Korean athlete now has a strong chance to add more medals to her remarkable Paralympic debut.