MILAN — Chloe Kim’s quest for a third straight Olympic gold medal fell just short in the women’s halfpipe final at Livigno Snow Park on Thursday.
Kim’s first run earned an 88.00 after landing a backside 720 before a switch-backside air, switch double cork 1080 and an inverted 540 to close it off. She led midway through the third and final run, but South Korea’s Gaon Choi received a 90.25.
Kim had one more chance to top Choi but failed to complete her final run. Choi, just 17 years old, is the youngest medalist in the Olympics.
If Kim had secured gold, she would have been the first snowboarder — man or woman — to ever do it three consecutive times.
U.S. snowboarding legend Shaun White has taken top honors in three different Olympics, but not in a row.
Before the final, Kim said she was content with whatever happened.
“I’m just going to do what I came here to do, and if they decide to give it to me, then awesome,” she said earlier this week. “But I’m really just grateful to be in the position where I’ve won all these events multiple times. The fact that I’m able to be here and riding and being confident is all I can ask for.”
Choi's upset was particularly impressive considering how she started the final.
On her first run in the women’s halfpipe event, Choi attempted a switch frontside 1080 but crashed on the way down, as her board hit the lip. She lay on the snow motionless for a few minutes while medical staff examined her, but Choi was able to get up on her own power.
She did not improve her score on the second run and needed a big performance on the third and final attempt to medal. She did that and more.
Kim, 25, nearly missed the Milan Cortina Games entirely when she suffered a shoulder injury during a training run last month in Switzerland. But after being cleared to compete, she didn't miss a beat and took the top spot out of 24 riders in Wednesday’s qualifying with a score of 90.25.
She said her shoulder was feeling “pretty good” heading into Thursday’s final.
“It hasn’t popped out since it happened, which is awesome,” she said. “I feel like it’s trending towards the right direction. I will need surgery after this event, though. But it feels really good.”
Kim is considered the biggest women’s snowboarding star in the sport’s history. In 2018, at just 17 years old, she became the youngest woman to win an Olympic snowboarding gold medal. She is also a three-time world champion and eight-time X Games champion.
Kim said she’s proud of herself for persevering through the recent injuries.
“I’m just happy to be here because for a little bit, a couple of months ago, it wasn’t looking too certain,” she said. “So I’m stoked that I was able to make it out and make it through qualifiers.
“I’m really happy with who I’ve become,” she added. “Going into these Games, I felt really at ease and calm. I know what I’m here to do.”
