Chloe Kim Eyes Historic Third Olympic Gold After Injury

Chloe Kim is competing for Olympic history this month, and a shoulder injury one month before the Games isn't slowing her down.

The American snowboarder tore her labrum during training in January but announced she was "good to go" just one week later. Now she's ready to become the first woman ever to win three Olympic halfpipe golds.

Kim won her first gold at 17 in Pyeongchang, then defended her title in Beijing. She's also racked up three world titles and eight Winter X Games golds, constantly pushing what's possible in women's snowboarding.

But her journey hasn't been all podiums and praise. Kim stepped away from competition after both Olympic victories, struggling with fame's harsh realities.

The California native faced racist online abuse that intensified during the pandemic's anti-Asian hate surge. She's been open about an unhappy transition from teenager to adult that left her questioning the sport she once loved.

Why This Inspires

What makes Kim's Olympic return special isn't just her medal chase. It's how she found her way back to joy.

She recently started spinning backside for the first time in 15 years, opening up a whole new world of tricks that excite her. "I just started to think what run would feel fun, what run is challenging, what run is exciting for me," she told Olympics.com.

Therapy helped her rebuild confidence. Now she's channeling that growth into helping others as cofounder of Togethxr, a platform amplifying female athletes' stories alongside stars like Alex Morgan and Sue Bird.

Kim has built a million followers on Instagram who get to see all sides of her life, from training sessions to NFL sideline moments with boyfriend Myles Garrett. A documentary about her 2026 Olympic campaign is in the works.

"I'm just, like, letting myself be free," she said. "And it's been the best experience I've had in a long time."

Even with limited training reps because of her injury, Kim isn't worried. After more than a decade dominating her sport, she knows what matters most is showing up as her authentic self.