Chloe Kim's Olympic Hat-Trick Dream Dashed by Korean Teenager Gaon Choi
In a stunning upset at the Winter Olympics, American snowboarding superstar Chloe Kim failed to secure an unprecedented third consecutive gold medal in the women's halfpipe, finishing second to 17-year-old Korean prodigy Gaon Choi. The high-stakes final, held in heavy snowfall in Livigno, saw Kim's historic bid fall just short against the teenage sensation who mirrored her own breakthrough victory eight years prior.
Dramatic Final Sees Young Star Overcome Early Falls
The competition unfolded with remarkable drama as Gaon Choi endured two significant falls in her initial runs, including one that required medical attention after she lay motionless for over two minutes. Demonstrating extraordinary resilience, the 17-year-old delivered a flawless performance when it mattered most, posting a winning score of 90.25 in the deteriorating conditions to claim gold.
Chloe Kim, aged 25, scored 88.00 in her first run but couldn't surpass Choi's final effort, earning silver instead of completing the coveted three-peat. The American icon had entered the Games as one of the hottest favourites despite nearly missing the competition entirely due to a shoulder injury sustained during training in Switzerland just one month earlier.
Full Circle Moment for Snowboarding's Changing Guard
In a poignant full-circle moment, Choi achieved her first Olympic gold at exactly the same age Kim was when she won her initial title in PyeongChang eight years ago. "It was so inspirational. It's such a full-circle moment," said Kim, who watched nine of the twelve finalists hail from Asian nations - a testament to her global influence on the sport.
The American champion reflected on the bittersweet nature of inspiring the next generation: "I've known Gaon since she was little, she's my baby. It means a lot to see that I've inspired the next generation and they're now out here killing it." Kim acknowledged the significance of being overtaken by those she inspired, noting the peculiar experience of watching an admirer stand above her on the Olympic podium.
Overcoming Adversity and Looking to the Future
Kim's preparation had been severely limited, with just eight days on snow during the entire winter season. "This was just my eighth day on snow this entire winter," she revealed. "A month ago I didn't think I'd even be here, so this means so much to me." The champion was watched by her partner, NFL star Myles Garrett, and snowboarding legend Shaun White, himself a three-time Olympic champion.
Gaon Choi, who became a junior world champion at just 13 and has won three World Cup titles this year, expressed her disbelief at the victory: "It's the kind of story you only see in dreams, so I'm incredibly happy it happened." Despite hobbling onto the podium with a bruised knee, the teenager's triumph made her the youngest gold medallist of the Games so far.
Retirement Speculation and Sport's Bright Future
Kim had previously hinted at retirement plans, mentioning a desire to become a "young mum" and claiming she felt fulfilled by her career achievements. When pressed about her future, she remained coy: "You'll have to stay tuned about that. I'm aware I can't do this forever but the sport is in very good hands."
The result marks a significant shift in women's halfpipe snowboarding, not because Kim was outclassed, but because another athlete delivered her trademark combination of technical difficulty, flawless execution, and perfect timing under maximum pressure. As the sport evolves, this dramatic changing of the guard suggests exciting developments ahead for Olympic snowboarding.
