A New Star Rises in Women’s Halfpipe
Seventeen year old Choi Ga-on delivered the performance of her life to deny Chloe Kim a historic third straight Olympic gold in women’s halfpipe at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Many expected Kim to make history. No snowboarder has ever won three consecutive Olympic halfpipe titles. But Choi had other plans.
After a heavy fall in her opening run, the South Korean teenager bounced back with a stunning final attempt. She scored 90.25 points, the exact mark Kim posted in qualification a day earlier. Kim could not match it in her final run and had to settle for silver.
The moment felt symbolic. Kim, long considered the face of women’s halfpipe, stood beside the young rider she once mentored.
From Protégé to Olympic Champion
Choi and Kim first met nine years ago at a test event before the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Kim was 17 at the time and on her way to her first Olympic gold. Choi was just a child with big dreams.
Recognizing her talent, Kim and her father helped Choi train in the United States. That support now forms part of an emotional full circle story.
Choi had already built a strong reputation. In 2023, at age 14, she won X Games superpipe gold. She became the youngest rider ever to claim the title, breaking Kim’s record. That same year, she won her first World Cup event. A back fracture later cut her season short, but she returned stronger.
Coming into the Olympics, she had won every World Cup event she entered this season.
A Dramatic Final Under Pressure
The final in Italy tested her mentally and physically.
On her first run, Choi hit the icy lip of the pipe and crashed hard. She lay still for several moments as snow fell around her. Many thought her gold medal hopes were over.
Instead of quitting, she reset. She admitted she cried after that fall. For a moment, she considered withdrawing. Then she told herself to continue.
Her third run changed everything. She linked technical tricks with confidence and control. The crowd reacted with shock and applause as her score appeared. Her coach broke down in tears.
Japan’s Mitsuki Ono claimed bronze with 85.00 points.
Kim Fights Through Injury
Kim entered the Games with limited preparation. She had competed only once this season. A training fall in Switzerland left her with a dislocated shoulder and a torn labrum. She rode in the final with her shoulder strapped in a brace.
She opened with a strong 88.00 run and looked in control. But Choi’s final score increased the pressure. On her last attempt, Kim fell. That mistake ended her bid for a third straight gold.
Despite the result, Kim expressed pride. She plans to undergo shoulder surgery after the Games. She said this silver medal means as much as her previous golds because she pushed herself fully.
The Changing of the Guard
Choi’s victory signals a shift in women’s halfpipe. The teenager who once looked up to Kim now stands as Olympic champion. The sport has a new leader, and her journey is only beginning.
