American snowboarder Chloe Kim dominated the halfpipe qualifiers at the Milano Cortina Winter Games, showcasing her prowess with high-flying maneuvers to position herself for a potential third consecutive gold medal. Kim, renowned as one of the sport’s greatest athletes, flashed a wide smile following a stellar first run on the sunlit slopes of Livigno.
Despite nursing a shoulder injury just a month ago, the 25-year-old displayed no signs of discomfort, outclassing her rivals with a commanding score of 90.25. Her closest competitor, Sara Shimizu of Japan, trailed behind with a score of 87.50. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Hosking of Canada secured a spot in the finals with an eighth-place finish during Wednesday’s competition.
In her second run, Kim attempted more challenging tricks and experienced minor stumbles on landings, yet her initial lead from the first round proved insurmountable. The halfpipe event involves riders navigating a 22-foot-tall ramp and executing aerial maneuvers. Kim, who previously triumphed in Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022, aims to make history as no snowboarder, not even the legendary Shaun White, has clinched three consecutive Olympic golds.
Despite a setback during training in Switzerland necessitating a two-week break before the Games, Kim expressed confidence in her shoulder’s recovery and competed with the aid of a brace. In a somber moment, Chinese competitor Liu Jiayu, a silver medalist in 2018, suffered a crash during her run and required medical attention.
Reflecting on the intense competition, Hosking remarked on the challenges of the sport and expressed empathy for her fellow athletes, emphasizing the camaraderie and mutual respect among competitors.