The 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics are heating up with one of the most anticipated showdowns in women’s snowboarding: the women’s halfpipe. All eyes are on two phenomenal athletes—American superstar Chloe Kim, aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic gold, and South Korea’s rising prodigy Choi Gaon, who’s been on a tear this season. With the halfpipe finals set for February 13, the stage is set for a clash of generations and styles, each athlete bringing their own story, ambition, and pressure to the Italian slopes of Livigno Snowpark.
Chloe Kim, now a household name in snowboarding, attended a press conference at Livigno Snowpark on February 9, where she didn’t shy away from discussing both her goals and her recent setbacks. Kim, who clinched gold in PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022, is gunning for a historic third straight Olympic title—a feat never before achieved in the sport. Yet, her path to glory hasn’t been without obstacles. Last month, during a training session in Switzerland, Kim suffered a shoulder injury that forced her to take an unexpected break mid-season.
"I had to deal with a bit of a setback with my injury," Kim admitted during the press conference, according to Yonhap News. "But honestly, having a break in the middle of the season was really enjoyable. My shoulder is okay. I wore a brace and taped it up during practice yesterday. Peeling it off after riding was kind of gruesome, but it was worth it." Kim’s resilience and positive outlook have become trademarks of her career, but even she acknowledges the challenge ahead. Her first competition since the injury will be none other than the Olympic Games—a high-stakes return by any measure.
Standing in Kim’s way is Choi Gaon, a 16-year-old phenom from South Korea who has taken the snowboarding world by storm. Born in 2008, Choi has already racked up three gold medals in the 2025-2026 FIS Snowboard Halfpipe World Cup, including a standout performance in Laax, Switzerland, where she scored 92.50 points to secure first place. Choi’s consistency and technical prowess have propelled her to the top of the World Cup rankings this season, making her the top challenger to Kim’s dominance.
Choi’s journey to the Olympics is nothing short of remarkable. She burst onto the international scene by winning the X Games in 2023 at just 14 years and 2 months old, setting a new record as the youngest champion in the event’s history. Since then, her star has only risen, with her eyes now firmly set on Olympic gold. But for Choi, the experience is about more than medals. Speaking to Olympics.com, she shared, "I’ve looked up to Chloe since I was a kid. Just being able to compete at the Olympics with her is such an honor and makes me really happy."
This mutual respect is echoed by Kim, who’s watched Choi grow from a distance. "I’ve seen Gaon since she was very young, and I really like her," Kim said. "It’s amazing to see her on such a big stage. Sometimes, looking at her, it feels like I’m looking in a mirror at myself and my family. It’s fantastic to see another Korean girl excelling on the Olympic stage." Kim also reflected on the shifting landscape of winter sports in Asia: "Asian athletes are really strong in snow sports now. My relatives used to tell me not to snowboard and to focus on school, but I think that perception is changing."
Choi, for her part, has approached this season with a blend of confidence and humility. She told Olympics.com, "Honestly, I didn’t expect to win all the gold medals this season. At the Secret Garden event in China, I kind of expected it, but at Copper Mountain and Laax, I just wanted to train for the Olympics and take care of my body. Winning was a bonus." Choi’s mental game has also matured. "I try to stay positive. If I nail my first run, I can show off bigger tricks in the second. I just focus on doing what I know I can do well."
The two athletes nearly faced off earlier this season at the Copper Mountain World Cup, where both dominated their qualifying heats. However, Kim withdrew from the final due to her shoulder injury, postponing their much-anticipated head-to-head battle until the Olympic stage. Choi remarked, "Chloe had her injury, and neither of us was at our best. I thought it would be better for both of us to compete when we’re in top condition." Now, that moment has arrived.
Choi’s Olympic debut is set for February 11 at 6:30 p.m. (KST) in Livigno, where she’ll compete in the women’s snowboard halfpipe qualifiers. Only the top 12 will advance to the final, scheduled for the early hours of February 13. As Choi prepares, she’s focused on executing her tried-and-true tricks cleanly and is leaving the door open for bigger moves depending on the day’s conditions. "Right now, I’m just trying to land what I’ve always done, as cleanly as possible. I haven’t decided exactly which tricks I’ll do in the final—it’ll depend on how I feel and the situation," she explained.
Despite the mounting pressure and media attention, Choi remains refreshingly grounded. She admitted, "I don’t really read my own articles these days. My friends just send me stuff when they see me pop up on Instagram. It’s still surreal." She’s also looking forward to the simple pleasures awaiting her after the Games. "My dad’s a great cook, but I love malatang, and I haven’t been able to eat it lately. After the Olympics, I just want to go home to Korea and have malatang and Dubai chewy cookies with my friends!"
Both athletes bring not just skill but personality and perspective to the halfpipe. Kim, who’s spoken openly about her focus on mental health and rediscovering her love for snowboarding, said, "I want to be remembered as the best snowboarder, not just for my tricks, but for riding with stability and style." Choi echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the sport and inspiring future generations in Korea: "I want to show that snowboarding can be big in Korea, too. Of course, results matter, but having fun and riding well is just as important."
As the Olympic halfpipe qualifiers approach, anticipation is sky-high. Will Chloe Kim cement her legacy with a historic third gold, or will Choi Gaon’s dazzling rise culminate in a new champion for Korea? For now, the contest remains wide open, with both athletes ready to deliver unforgettable performances on the world’s grandest winter stage.