The Olympic flame is inching closer to the final destination for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games, and ENHYPEN member Sunghoon is one of the lucky few in charge of bringing the torch relay to a close in its long-anticipated final stretch.

After over two months, the Olympic torch relay will enter its 60th and final stage on February 5, arriving in Milano one day before the Games are due to start, and the grand opening ceremony is set to take place at San Siro. 23-year-old Sunghoon is making the trek to Italy alongside thousands of athletes from all over the world; he’s set to officially become a torchbearer at around 3 p.m. local time as the relay enters its final 24 hours.

Winter sports, both in fiction and in real life, are having a major moment, and the Winter Olympics are only pushing that momentum forward, something Sunghoon also wishes to help ignite. Sunghoon being named a torchbearer is a fitting nod to the idol’s past as a figure skater, and he’s not taking the task lightly.

Ahead of his turn at the torch relay tomorrow, Teen Vogue sat down with Sunghoon to talk about why this task is such a special honor for him, his days as a figure skater, and who he’s rooting for these Olympics.

Teen Vogue: Congrats on being named a torchbearer for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics! Do you remember where you were when you found out you were going to participate in the torch relay?

Sunghoon: I was at my company! One of the staff members came to me and told me. I was just deeply touched and very happy because, as you probably know, I did figure skating for 10 years, and while training, it was always my dream to be part of the Olympics. Now I have a different job as an idol, I’m an artist, but to be still connected to my dream is a big, big honor for me.

TV: As you said, going to the Olympics was your dream. Maybe it’s not as you had imagined, but you are going to the Olympics. Does it still feel like a dream come true? Does it still feel like a pinch-me moment for you?

Sunghoon: Yeah! Although I’m not an athlete anymore, and I’m not participating as an athlete, so it’s a little bit different. When I was an athlete, it was my dream to showcase my performance. Now, I get to be part of the Olympics, cheering and rooting for the athletes. That still means a lot to me: I get to be part of this journey, in charge of energizing others, including the athletes, which, as someone who is an athlete-turned-artist, [feels special]. So it’s in a different form, of course, but it feels like a big dream is coming true for me.

TV: The torch relay has been super popular this year, with many high-profile participants. From Formula 1 star Kimi Antonelli, to Jackie Chan, Snoop Dogg, actors Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, and many more. You are only the second K-pop artist to participate in an Olympic torch relay overseas, after BTS’s Jin. How does that make you feel? Do you feel pressure at all?

Sunghoon: First of all, that was my first time hearing other names of torchbearers, and it’s my profound honor to be part of this whole journey with these amazing people. Wow. I do feel a deep sense of responsibility, but I know that Jin did so well in the last Olympics, so I’m going to make sure that I run hard and do well too.

TV: Are you scared about any of the process? I know it’s a little intimidating to be carrying the Olympic flame. What is your biggest fear coming into this?

Sunghoon: I do have my worries because it’s such a meaningful event, and the weight of it is just so big, so, yeah, I do worry. I’m a bit scared, but this is such a big honor for me. Since I’ve never been to a torch relay, I don’t know what the atmosphere is going to be like, but still, I’m just going to make myself feel at home and do a good job!

TV: I think it’s going to be weighty both physically and metaphorically, but you’ll ace it!

Sunghoon: Yeah, I know. [Laughs.] Even if the flame goes out somehow during the relay, I just know that I have to keep running!