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American snowboarder Chloe Kim failed to secure three consecutive gold medals in the women’s half-pipe event on Thursday, falling on her final run to hand South Korea’s Gaon Choi gold at the Milan Cortina 2026 Games.
Kim still took silver after her score of 88.00 in her first run, which kept her in first place throughout the half-pipe final until Choi, who had two scary falls in her first two runs, was emotional after a flawless run notched a huge score of 90.25 to overtake first place.
Kim, who fell during her second run, still had a chance to reclaim her best score. But she fell halfway through and the South Korean team was jumping for joy knowing that gold had been won.
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Chloe Kim of the United States falls during the women’s snowboard halfpipe final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Thursday, February 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Kim, who won gold in the previous two Olympics, may have seen her reign end in this event. But she was all smiles, heading straight to Choi to celebrate with her.
Alongside Choi and bronze medalist Mitsuki Ono of Japan, Kim continued to point at the South Korean winner as the camera filmed them together at the base of the hill.
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Choi is only 17 years old and was considered the biggest threat to Kim entering the event. She had won the X Games at just 14 years old and it was time for her first Olympics in Milan. Both falls didn’t look promising, but she made sure to count on the last round.
Kim, an eight-time X Games gold medalist and three-time world champion, was looking to make Olympic history at this year’s tournament.
She would have become the first snowboarder, male or female, to win three consecutive gold medals. American legend Shaun White has won three Olympic gold medals, but he has never done it consecutively.
Chloe Kim of the United States falls during the women’s snowboard halfpipe final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Thursday, February 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Kim said before the event that she would be happy with the results either way.
“I’m just going to do what I came here to do, and if they decide to give it to me, then great,” she said, according to NBC News. “But I’m really grateful to be in the position where I’ve won all these events multiple times. To be able to be here and ride and be confident is all I can ask for.”
Kim had a family contingent in Milan, which also included her boyfriend, Cleveland Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett, who just won Defensive Player of the Year after breaking the single-season sack record.
Chloe Kim of the United States celebrates her run during the women’s snowboard halfpipe final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Thursday, February 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Kim’s silver medal was the 14th for the United States at the Milan Cortina Games.
