Juni Kang, a skateboarder born in 2008, won gold in the men's street final at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 27. It is Korea's first-ever Asian Games gold medal in skateboarding. He led the 45-second "run" round, but in the "trick" round, where skaters compete with a single move, he fell twice in a row and dropped to seventh place. On his third and final attempt, he went for the same trick without lowering the difficulty. His signature: a nollie 270 heelflip lipslide. He popped off the nose, spun his body 270 degrees, flipped the board with his heel, and swung the tail onto the rail to slide down. The clean landing sealed the comeback and the gold.
Kang started skating at eight in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, and has been setting "first Korean" records on the world stage ever since. He became the first Korean to win one of the world's top amateur contests for rising talents, and in his very first appearance at a stage where the world's best pros compete, he took the title. Now his eyes are set on the 2028 LA Olympics. On the soil where skateboarding was born, he dreams of winning Korea's first Olympic medal in the sport.
Street skateboarding is performed on obstacle structures such as stairs, rails, and ramps. The run round is a 45-second free skate across the entire course; the trick round scores skaters on a single move at a designated obstacle. Kang failed twice in the trick round but chose the same high-difficulty trick for his last try. That decision delivered the gold.
Since winning the Asian Games, Kang has been balancing world tour appearances with Olympic preparation. The 2028 LA Olympics will be a chance to bring Korea its first skateboarding medal and a stage for Kang to confirm his place at the top. The rail journey that began in Yangsan now glides on a golden track. What trick do you think he'll land for a medal in LA 2028?
Kang started skating at eight in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, and has been setting "first Korean" records on the world stage ever since. He became the first Korean to win one of the world's top amateur contests for rising talents, and in his very first appearance at a stage where the world's best pros compete, he took the title. Now his eyes are set on the 2028 LA Olympics. On the soil where skateboarding was born, he dreams of winning Korea's first Olympic medal in the sport.
Street skateboarding is performed on obstacle structures such as stairs, rails, and ramps. The run round is a 45-second free skate across the entire course; the trick round scores skaters on a single move at a designated obstacle. Kang failed twice in the trick round but chose the same high-difficulty trick for his last try. That decision delivered the gold.
Since winning the Asian Games, Kang has been balancing world tour appearances with Olympic preparation. The 2028 LA Olympics will be a chance to bring Korea its first skateboarding medal and a stage for Kang to confirm his place at the top. The rail journey that began in Yangsan now glides on a golden track. What trick do you think he'll land for a medal in LA 2028?
FAQ
What medal did Kang Jun-i win at the Asian Games?
Kang Jun-i won gold in the men's street final at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games on September 27. It's the first Asian Games gold medal in Korean skateboarding history.
What is Kang Jun-i's signature trick?
Kang Jun-i's signature trick is the nollie 270 heelflip lipslide. It's a highly technical move where he pops the nose, rotates 270 degrees, heelflips the board, and locks the tail onto the rail to complete the slide. This trick secured his comeback victory in the Asian Games final.
What is Kang Jun-i's next goal?
Kang Jun-i's next goal is the 2028 LA Olympics. He dreams of winning Korea's first Olympic skateboarding medal in the United States, where skateboarding was born.
