Chloe Kim Set for Olympic Halfpipe Three-Peat Attempt Despite Shoulder Injury

Chloe Kim's pursuit of snowboarding immortality begins Wednesday at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics as the American superstar takes on women's halfpipe qualifying, aiming to become the first athlete ever to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the discipline. The 25-year-old faces this historic challenge while managing a shoulder injury that required her to wear a brace during practice runs, but Kim insists she's ready to make history.

"Everything's feeling good—I have all the pieces done and dialed," Kim told reporters after her first practice session on the Olympic halfpipe. The two-time defending champion from PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 enters the competition as the heavy favorite despite the injury setback, which occurred during training in the lead-up to the Games. Her decision to compete with the shoulder brace has raised questions, but Kim's confidence and practice performances have silenced most doubts about her readiness.

Qualifying rounds take place Wednesday, February 11 at 10:30 CET, with the top competitors advancing to Thursday's finals scheduled for 19:30 CET. Kim faces stiff competition from South Korea's Gaon Choi, who leads a new generation of halfpipe riders pushing the sport's technical boundaries. The competition also features strong contenders from Japan, Switzerland, and fellow Americans, all hoping to dethrone the sport's most dominant athlete.

Kim's journey to Milano Cortina has been one of overcoming adversity. After taking time away from competition following her Beijing triumph to focus on her mental health and education at Princeton University, she returned to elite competition with renewed purpose. The shoulder injury threatened to derail her three-peat bid, but Kim's determination and world-class training staff have kept her Olympic dreams alive. She's described feeling both anxious and confident—a mental state she believes is ideal for peak performance.

If Kim captures gold on Thursday, she'll join an exclusive club of Winter Olympic legends and cement her status as perhaps the greatest halfpipe snowboarder in history. Her influence extends beyond medals, having inspired countless young athletes and advocated for mental health awareness in elite sports. Whether she completes the three-peat or not, Kim's impact on snowboarding and Olympic competition is already secured, but adding a third consecutive gold would elevate her legacy to truly historic status.