2026 Winter Olympics women’s snowboarding halfpipe: Choi Ga-on denies Chloe Kim three-peat
A new Olympic champion emerged in the women’s halfpipe on Thursday, Feb. 12, as South Korea’s Choi Ga-on produced a late, title-winning run to edge American star Chloe Kim and end Kim’s bid for a third straight Olympic gold. The final, held at Livigno’s snow park, turned on a momentum swing that included a heavy early crash for Choi—and a poised comeback when it mattered most.
Kim, a two-time Olympic champion, leaves the event with silver after leading the final at points through the competition but ultimately being topped by Choi’s best score in the final round.
Women’s halfpipe final turns on one run
Choi, 17, posted the top score of the day with a 90.25 on her third run, moving ahead of Kim’s best mark of 88.00. Japan’s Mitsuki Ono took bronze with an 85.00.
The defining sequence was psychological as much as technical: Choi went down hard on her first run, was checked by medical staff on course, then returned with a cleaner second run before delivering her best performance last. In a format where each athlete gets three attempts and only the best score counts, the ability to reset after a mistake can be the difference between leaving empty-handed and standing on the top step.
| Medal | Athlete | Country | Best score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Choi Ga-on | South Korea | 90.25 |
| Silver | Chloe Kim | United States | 88.00 |
| Bronze | Mitsuki Ono | Japan | 85.00 |
Choi Ga-on’s breakthrough and what it means
Choi’s win is a major moment for South Korean snowboarding—both because it adds a new nation to the women’s halfpipe gold list and because of how it happened. She didn’t just sneak onto the podium; she forced the issue with the competition’s highest score under maximum pressure.
Her rise has been closely watched this season, and Thursday’s result confirms she can translate that promise into the biggest stage. The late improvement also reinforces a key halfpipe reality: finals are often won by the athlete who can raise difficulty or execution in the last run while others are trying to protect a leading score.
Chloe Kim’s result, and how old she is
Kim is 25, born April 23, 2000. She entered the final chasing a rare milestone—three consecutive Olympic halfpipe gold medals—and she came within striking distance. The silver adds to her Olympic legacy, but it’s also the kind of finish that can sting: she was good enough to win most days, just not on the one that decides the medals.
Kim’s best run showed her trademark control and amplitude, but she didn’t land a score in the 90s, which left her vulnerable to an athlete who could put one clean, high-scoring ride together late.
Myles Garrett and the Chloe Kim spotlight
The final also came with extra attention on Kim’s personal life after her relationship with NFL star Myles Garrett became public in late 2025. In recent days, Garrett has spoken about traveling to support Kim during the Games and trying to be present as her schedule ramps up.
That kind of crossover visibility tends to widen the audience for events like women’s halfpipe—pulling in casual viewers who might not normally follow snowboard competition—while also adding another layer of scrutiny to an athlete already under intense Olympic pressure.
What the result changes for the sport
This podium signals a generational shift without erasing the old guard. Kim remains a medal threat anytime she drops into a pipe, but Choi’s emergence suggests the women’s field is entering a new phase—one where the top spot is no longer a closed club.
For the rest of these Games, the broader question is whether this final is the start of a longer run for Choi or a single peak moment. The answer will come in the next championship cycle, as rivals adjust their run content and consistency to meet a new benchmark.
For now, the headline is clear: the women’s halfpipe has a new Olympic champion, and she won it the hard way—by getting up, dropping back in, and delivering the best run of the final when the title was on the line.
