Who beat Chloe Kim for halfpipe gold?
A 17-year-old shocks the halfpipe hierarchy
South Korea’s 17-year-old Choi Ga-on won Olympic gold in the women’s snowboard halfpipe at Milano Cortina 2026, denying Chloe Kim a historic third straight Games title. Choi delivered the winning performance on her Olympic debut, while the American star finished with the silver medal after a fall on her final run.
The result matters because Choi’s victory halts an attempt at a snowboarding milestone. Winning three consecutive Olympic halfpipe golds would have been unprecedented in the sport; instead, the podium reflected a changing competitive landscape as a young talent rose to the moment.
Key takeaways
- Breakthrough performance: Choi’s gold on debut establishes her immediately as a major figure in women’s halfpipe snowboarding.
- Close but not historic for Kim: Despite a strong career and two previous Olympic golds, the final run error prevented a third straight title; she still left with an Olympic silver.
- Sportsmanship and spotlight: In the moments after the final, competitors and observers noted the composure and class shown on the hill — including a public embrace between the two podium finishers — and high-profile supporters were visible in the crowd.
What remains unclear
It’s not yet known how this result will affect longer-term plans for either athlete — whether Kim will chase another Olympic cycle or how Choi’s team will manage expectations going forward. For now, the outcome rewrites the immediate narrative of the halfpipe event and spotlights a new champion at the Olympic level.