American Chloe Kim picked up where she left off the last two Olympics, soaring through to the halfpipe final as the No. 1 qualifier at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games in Italy.
In her first competition since tearing the labrum in her left shoulder last month, Kim didn't look like she'd missed a step, throwing down a high-skill opening run to top Wednesday's qualifying.
The two-time defending gold medalist linked a risky inverted backside 720, massive switch straight air method, cab 1080 stalefish, frontside 900 and inverted indy 540 to post a 90.25 — about three points clear of second-best qualifier Sara Shimizu of Japan, the reigning Winter X Games champion.
“I'm just happy to be here because for a little bit, a couple of months ago, it wasn't looking too certain," Kim said "I'm stoked that I was able to make it out and make it through qualifiers.”
The 25-year-old Californian said she'll need surgery after the Olympics, even though the shoulder is feeling "really good." She added that the joint hasn't popped out since the tear, "which is awesome."
Earlier this week, Kim said that "in a funny way, [the injury has] made my riding better," noting she can't move the arm as much as usual because of a stabilizing brace.
"I'm out here trying to look at things positively and not pay too much mind to the negatives," Kim said.
Fellow U.S. teammate Maddie Mastro, who put together a career-best season in 2024-25 before dealing with injuries of her own this past offseason, looked just as strong. She recorded an 86.00 on a Run 2 that included a 9 and back-to-back 7s to close for the No. 3 spot.
Seventeen-year-old South Korean star Gaon Choi, rocking stylish camo pants, placed 6th with an 82.25 after hitting a switch back 7, big back 9, front 7, cab 7 and front 540. Mastro and Kim's teammate Bea Kim — no relation to Chloe — squeezed into the final in 10th on a score of 76.75.
China's Liu Jiayu, the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic silver medalist, took an extremely hard fall on her second run, catching a toe edge on her last hit and slamming forward into the snow. She was attended to by medical staff for about seven minutes before being taken off in a toboggan. No further information regarding her condition was immediately provided.
Chloe Kim will drop last in Thursday's 12-rider final, a position of advantage. If she wins gold in Italy, she will not only become the first snowboarder to win an Olympic title at three consecutive Games, but also the 11th athlete in Winter Olympic history to three-peat in the same event.
"I'm just going to do what I came here to do, and if they decide to give it to me, then awesome," Kim said. "I'm really just grateful to be in the position where I've won all these events multiple times. The fact that I'm able to be here and riding, and being confident, is all I can ask for.”
Three-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White joined NBC Olympics' coverage of the event, praising Chloe Kim's unparalleled speed and grabs. White eluded to Kim's ability to throw back-to-back 1080s — a combo she used to win gold in 2022 — and said we may see them again in the final.
“I do have some things on my agenda," Kim said. "I can't tell you because I'll ruin the fun, but I'm really excited, and I'm really hoping I can pull it off [Thursday] night.”
The U.S. has dominated women's halfpipe, winning at least one medal at every Olympics since the event debuted in 1998 — and multiple medals at four of the seven Games at which it has been contested.
Women's Snowboard Halfpipe Qualifying
- Chloe Kim, United States (90.25)
- Sara Shimizu, Japan (87.50)
- Maddie Mastro, United States (86.00)
- Rise Kudo, Japan (84.75)
- Cai Xuetong, China (83.00)
- Choi Gaon, South Korea (82.25)
- Queralt Castellet Ibanez, Spain (81.00)
- Elizabeth Hosking, Canada (80.25)
- Sena Tomita, Japan (77.50)
- Bea Kim, United States (76.75)
- Mitsuki Ono, Japan (76.00)
- Wu Shaotong, China (75.25)
- Leilani Ettel, Germany (67.50)
- Liu Jiayu, China (62.75)
- Maddy Schaffrick, United States (61.75)
- Isabelle Loetscher, Switzerland (48.50)
- Felicity Geremia, Canada (44.00)
- Kona Ettel, Germany (43.25)
- Yang Lu, China (42.50)
- Amelie Haskell, Australia (41.75)
- Anne Hedrich, Germany (36.25)
- Lee Nayoon, South Korea (35.00)
- Brooke Dhondt, Canada (24.00)
- Emily Arthur, Australia (7.25)