Chloe Kim Dominates Olympic Qualifying Four Weeks After Injury

Chloe Kim has been snowboarding for 22 years of her 25-year life, and it shows.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist topped Wednesday's halfpipe qualifying in Livigno, Italy, looking every bit the champion despite wearing a shoulder brace from an injury just four weeks ago. Her performance was so dominant that she made soaring 13 feet above the halfpipe's edge and executing backward 1080-degree spins look effortless.

"I might be better at snowboarding than I am at walking," Kim joked after her run, flashing a huge smile and sticking out her tongue for the camera.

The shoulder injury happened during a training run in Switzerland, forcing Kim to scramble her Olympic preparation. She only returned to the halfpipe two weeks ago, making Wednesday her first truly meaningful run since March 2025.

But muscle memory is powerful. Kim separated herself from the field immediately, finishing first among 24 riders and easily securing her spot in Thursday night's final.

After her run, she celebrated with boyfriend Myles Garrett, the Cleveland Browns defensive end who came to support her. The moment captured what makes Kim special: her ability to perform under pressure while staying grounded and grateful.

Why This Inspires

Kim's journey to this moment shows the power of perseverance mixed with perspective. Before the injury, she might have felt pressure about making history. Now, she's just proud of how far she's come in such a short recovery time.

"Obviously I didn't get nearly the amount of reps I would normally get going into an Olympics," Kim said. "I'm just really proud of myself and proud that I've been able to push it as far as I have."

She hasn't even put together her full finals routine yet, landing all the components separately but never linking them in one run. That means Thursday's final will be the first time she attempts her complete performance, injury and all.

Fellow Americans Maddie Mastro and Bea Kim also advanced to the finals, along with strong competitors from Japan and South Korea. They're all gunning for medals, but Kim remains the one to beat after a decade of dominance in the sport.

If Kim wins Thursday, she'll stand alone in snowboarding history as the only athlete to capture three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the halfpipe. Not bad for someone who's been "very well behaved" according to her shoulder, and who's ready to go even bigger when it counts most.