Chloe Kim Eyes Historic Third Olympic Gold Despite Injury

Chloe Kim is heading to the Milan Cortina Winter Games with a chance to make snowboarding history, even though a training accident tried to derail her dreams.

The American halfpipe champion dislocated her shoulder during what she called "the silliest fall" on a training run in Switzerland just weeks before the Olympics. The injury means she won't touch her board again until right before competition starts on February 11 in the Italian resort town of Livigno.

But here's the thing about Kim: she's so far ahead of the competition that experts believe she could still dominate. "If Chloe rides at 60% of her capacity, she will win a gold medal," said NBC Sports analyst Todd Richards, himself a former Olympic snowboarder.

Kim already won halfpipe gold in PyeongChang in 2018 and Beijing in 2022. A third win would make her the only snowboarder to claim three consecutive golds in the same event.

Her journey to the top started at age four in Southern California when her father, a Korean immigrant, introduced her to the sport. He believed in her talent so much that he quit his engineering job to coach her full time.

By age 13, Kim had the skills to compete in the Olympics but couldn't go because she was too young. Four years later at age 17, she became the youngest woman to win Olympic gold in snowboarding with a flawless run in PyeongChang.

The path hasn't been all smooth runs and perfect landings. Kim battled burnout and mental health challenges after her first Olympics, feeling the weight of being her family's breadwinner as a teenager. She broke her ankle in 2019 and took two years off, enrolling at Princeton University to experience normal college life.

Therapy and time away from competition helped her return stronger. She came back in 2021 and dominated again, claiming the 2025 World Championships before earning her spot on the 2026 Olympic team last spring.

Why This Inspires

Kim's story shows that excellence doesn't require perfection every step of the way. She openly discusses her mental health struggles and the importance of taking breaks, proving that champions are human too. She's pushed boundaries in a sport where few women attempt her difficulty level, becoming the first to land moves like the 1260 and the cab double cork 1080 in competition.

Even with limited training time, Kim told fans she's "good to go" for the Olympics. Her resilience through injury, burnout, and immense pressure shows what's possible when talent meets determination and self-care.

Competition from American Maddie Mastro and Japan's Sena Tomita and Rise Kudo could push Kim to deliver her most spectacular performance yet.