South Korea's Gaon Choi Secures Olympic Halfpipe Gold; Chloe Kim Takes Silver Amidst Injury
South Korea's Gaon Choi, 17, secured the Olympic halfpipe gold medal, marking a significant achievement for her nation in snow sports. U.S. snowboarder Chloe Kim, 25, earned the silver medal, competing with a shoulder injury and attempting to win her third consecutive Olympic gold.
Competition Overview
The competition saw Gaon Choi achieve a score of 90.25 points on her third and final run, a score that ultimately secured her victory. This followed falls on her first two attempts.
Chloe Kim had held an early lead, scoring 88.00 points on her first run. During her final attempt, Kim fell while performing a cab double cork 1080 trick, leaving her initial score as her best for the event.
The event took place in Livigno, Italy. Other competitors in the halfpipe qualifier included Americans Bea Kim, Maddie Mastro, and Maddy Schaffrick, among 23 other women.
Chloe Kim's Journey: Injury and Ambition
Chloe Kim was aiming to become the first halfpipe snowboarder to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals.
Kim's preparation for the competition was impacted by a torn labrum in her shoulder, an injury sustained in late January while training in Switzerland. This injury will require surgery.
The event marked Kim's first competition of the season, having qualified a year in advance. She resumed training approximately two weeks prior to the competition, utilizing a securely taped shoulder brace, which she stated potentially enhanced her riding stability. Kim expressed confidence in her muscle memory, stating that during her runs, her focus shifted entirely to performance rather than her shoulder.
Kim had intended to execute a new, unprecedented run at the Olympics, including an attempt at a 1440 trick, which she had achieved in practice but not yet in competition. Following the Beijing Games, Kim continued to achieve success, earning two X Games gold medals, two World Cups, and a third world championship title. Kim stated that earning a medal felt like a victory given her injury circumstances and expressed pride in securing her third Olympic medal.
Gaon Choi's Historic Gold
Gaon Choi's gold medal represents the first snow sports medal for a female Korean athlete and South Korea's first snowboard gold medal.
Choi, at 17, is a rising figure in the sport.
A Decade of Connection: Kim and Choi
Chloe Kim and Gaon Choi share a relationship spanning nearly a decade. Kim, whose parents emigrated from Korea, has known Choi since Choi began snowboarding. Kim's father mentored Choi's father prior to the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, and Kim and her father assisted Choi in training at Mammoth Mountain in California.
Kim noted a "full-circle moment" regarding Choi's success, observing a "shift to Asians being dominant in snow sports."
Choi indicated that Kim expressed satisfaction regarding her potential retirement. Kim has reportedly been stepping back from competitive snowboarding since 2022. Kim's family, including Jong Jin Kim, were present at the event.