Snowboard fans around the globe tuned in with bated breath as the women’s halfpipe event at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics unfolded in dramatic and, at times, harrowing fashion. The Alpine slopes of Livigno, usually a haven for snow sports, became an arena of triumph, resilience, and heartbreak over two unforgettable days of Olympic competition.
American superstar Chloe Kim, already a two-time Olympic gold medalist, entered the Games with history in her sights. Having previously claimed halfpipe gold in Pyeongchang in 2018 and Beijing in 2022, Kim was on the hunt for an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic title—a feat no snowboarder, not even the legendary Shaun White, has ever achieved. Despite a shoulder injury just a month before the Games, Kim arrived in Livigno undeterred, her trademark smile and high-flying tricks lighting up the qualification round on February 11, 2026.
Kim wasted no time establishing her dominance. On her very first run, she soared above the 22-foot-tall, U-shaped ramp, executing acrobatic maneuvers with effortless grace and precision. The judges rewarded her with a score of 90.25, comfortably outpacing her nearest rival, Japan’s Sara Shimizu, who posted an 87.50. Kim’s performance was so commanding that even a few wobbles on her second run couldn’t threaten her lead—only the best of two runs counted, and she was already through to the final with room to spare.
Canadian hopeful Elizabeth Hosking, competing in her third Olympics at just 24 years old, also secured her place in the final by finishing eighth in qualification. For Hosking, the road to Livigno had been anything but smooth. After a career-best sixth-place finish at the 2022 Beijing Games—a historic result for Canada—she clinched a silver medal at the 2023 FIS World Championships, marking Canada’s first-ever podium in halfpipe snowboarding at that level. But adversity struck when a concussion forced her to sit out an entire season. Despite lingering symptoms, Hosking battled back, finishing seventh at the 2025 FIS World Championships and posting a string of strong World Cup results in the months leading up to the Olympics, including a victory in Calgary and top-ten finishes in China, Aspen, and Laax.
Hosking’s excitement about competing in Europe for the first time was palpable. “Every Olympics has been special, but this one will be super special,” she said, her family cheering her on from the stands in Livigno. Her approach was clear: “Your best defence is your best offence,” she explained. “I just want to ride how I know how to ride.” Known for her signature front-side crippler—a frontside 540-degree backflip—Hosking admitted to feeling the nerves but embraced them as part of the Olympic experience. “The butterflies will be there. It is a big event, but you’re here because you worked hard.”
The Canadian team, featuring rising talents Brooke D’Hondt and Felicity Geremia alongside Hosking, brought youthful energy and camaraderie to the contest. Each athlete carried motivational messages written in duct tape on their boards, a testament to their unity and determination. With four boards packed and ready, Hosking was prepared for every challenge the halfpipe might throw her way.
But no one could have anticipated what awaited in the women’s halfpipe final on February 12. As heavy snowfall blanketed Livigno, visibility dropped and the halfpipe became treacherous. Athletes struggled to maintain their footing, and one after another, they fell victim to the unforgiving conditions. Social media erupted with concern and criticism, as fans questioned whether the event should have been postponed. “What does it take for them to postpone Olympic events? Literally everyone is falling at the snowboard halfpipe and one girl already got injured,” one viewer posted, echoing the anxiety felt by many.
The carnage was real. Seventeen-year-old South Korean sensation Goan Choi, touted as a top contender to challenge Kim, suffered a frightening crash on her first run after attempting a cab 1080 and clipping the lip of the halfpipe. Medical staff rushed to her aid, and for a moment, the crowd held its collective breath. Canadian Elizabeth Hosking also faced disaster, injuring herself on her third and final run and needing assistance to leave the course. The dangers of the sport were on full display, and Hosking’s words from earlier in the week rang with even greater poignancy: “We know it’s an extreme sport but it’s devastating to see. We know how hard we all work and we’re in a competitive sport. I want to beat the other girls, but only when they’ve landed their runs. I don’t ever want to see anyone crash like that.”
Despite the chaos, the competition pressed on. Kim, undaunted by the elements, took the lead after her first run in the final with a score of 88.0. But the snow proved a formidable adversary even for the best—she fell on both her second and third runs, unable to improve her score. Meanwhile, Goan Choi, after her earlier crash, mounted a remarkable comeback. In a display of grit and determination, she nailed her third and final run, vaulting into the gold medal position and stunning the crowd. Kim, with no improvement on her final attempt, had to settle for silver, while Japan’s Mitsuki Ono delivered a strong performance to claim the bronze.
Chinese veteran Liu Jiayu, a silver medalist from 2018 competing in her fifth Olympics, also experienced the harsh realities of the halfpipe, crashing on her second run and being carried off on a stretcher. The event’s high toll was a sobering reminder of the risks these athletes accept in pursuit of Olympic glory.
Through it all, the courage and resilience of the competitors shone brighter than the Alpine sun. Kim’s quest for a third gold may have fallen just short, but her legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats remains untarnished. Hosking’s journey, though ending in injury, underscored her determination and the rising stature of Canadian snowboarding. And for Goan Choi, the gold medal was a testament to perseverance in the face of adversity.
As the snow settles in Livigno, the women’s halfpipe final will be remembered not only for its breathtaking tricks and fierce competition, but also for the extraordinary toughness and sportsmanship displayed by every athlete who dropped into the pipe. Their stories, marked by triumph and challenge, will inspire the next generation of snowboarders to chase their own Olympic dreams—no matter the conditions.