8 February 2026
Kim Jiwon Catalina: From TV fan to Olympic timer
There are many roads that can lead someone to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games: from athlete to official; organiser to volunteer; family, friend or fan.
While Olympic Winter Games participation obviously marks the pinnacle of an athletic career, for all others, being a part of action off the ice or snow is just as much of a life milestone.
Everywhere you look around the curling venue — the iconic Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo — there will be someone with a unique tale to tell of how they got here.
One person who has been on that winding road is Kim Jiwon Catalina — also known as Cat — from Korea, who is Deputy Chief Timer here in Cortina.
Cat, a professional translator who lives in Seoul, is a leader in the team that ensures teams are playing within the allowed time available to them.
So… how did Cat’s journey start?
Love at first sight
“The first time I came across curling was at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games. I’m not a morning person but one morning I turned on the TV and curling was being broadcast,” she said.
Cat was fascinated right away, but was unable to get to the curling venue in Gangneung because by the time she looked for tickets, they were all sold out.
Undeterred, she eventually got to see curling in person, and was immediately hooked: “I fell in love with curling as soon as I saw it in person.”
And it has been progress since then.
“I started as a spectator and then I signed up as an umpire,” she said.
“I worked to get my umpire certificate. This was during the Covid years, so the course was all virtual.”
Despite her devotion to the game, Cat makes a confession about deciding to take the course — “Actually, I joined the course because I knew they were giving away some awesome merch!”
Cat’s career in curling gradually grew: “I started to get some local games and then I got to be part of the World Curling team at the Youth Olympics 2024 when it was in Gangneung, Korea .”
Getting the Olympic call
And now, she finds herself in the gallery at the top of the stadium supervising her timing team, and pinching herself when she thinks about how she got here.
“I actually cried when I got the email [about the Olympic appointment] — I was going to Cortina!”
In her current position she is clear, “Now that I’m working here, I have to be in the right mindset. I just try to remind myself that this is just like any other game. Not to be nervous or anxious.”
Being part of curling’s future
With this Olympic Games under her belt, what does the future hold for Cat?
“The future will be whatever curling wants,” she said.
“I’d like to work more curling games. In addition to taking on timing duties, I’d like to work international games and to be an umpire at a World Championship as well.
“This has been lovely, but I would like to learn more about the international side of both timing and umpiring. I’m loving doing timing here.”
When Cat started this journey she recalled, “I had to explain to my friends what curling is about — I usually do the [sweeping] posture.
While Cat had to discover curling for herself, awareness of curling in Korea has improved.
She said, “Now, in Korea, everyone knows what curling is about”.
And Cat is determined to be part of the sport’s future.
Follow the live scores from mixed doubles curling at Milano Cortina 2026 here.
Find the full mixed doubles schedule and results here.
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