Chloe Kim, the snowboarding sensation, has taken a giant leap towards making history at the 2026 Winter Olympics. After dominating the qualification round, she's now in the women's snowboard halfpipe final, aiming for an unprecedented hat-trick of Olympic titles.
The 25-year-old, who recently dislocated her shoulder, showcased her resilience and skill, scoring a stunning 90.25 on her first run. Her performance was a testament to her determination, as she expressed her joy and the pressure she feels, despite the global support she receives.
Chloe's dominance continued as she finished ahead of her Japanese rival, Shimizu Sara, and U.S. teammate Maddie Mastro. The competition was intense, with Japan's Judo Rise in fourth and the Republic of Korea's rising star, Choi Gaon, in sixth. A tense moment occurred during qualifying when Liu Jiayu, a PyeongChang silver medallist, crashed and was stretchered away, causing visible distress among the athletes and her teammates.
The snowboard halfpipe final is set for February 12th at 19:30 CET / 13:30 ET. Chloe Kim's pursuit of Olympic glory continues, as she aims to become the first athlete to win three consecutive halfpipe titles, following in the footsteps of snowboarding legend Shaun White, who won three Olympic golds.
With her serene backside 720 and 1080 spins, Chloe's performance was a sight to behold. Her smile at the bottom of the run, coupled with her high score, solidified her top position. The second qualifying run saw Shimizu improve, but she couldn't surpass Chloe's lead. Despite her impressive tricks, Chloe treated the run as a training session, focusing on her technique and range.
