The dream of a historic third consecutive Olympic gold medal for American snowboarding sensation Chloe Kim hangs in the balance after she suffered a dislocated shoulder during a training session in Switzerland.
Training Fall Casts Shadow Over Historic Bid
Chloe Kim, the dominant force in women's halfpipe snowboarding, revealed the significant setback on Thursday. The injury occurred while the 25-year-old was training in Laax, a key World Cup venue and a crucial pre-Olympic stop on the circuit. Kim posted a video showing the moment she lost her edge after landing a manoeuvre, sliding awkwardly across the pipe and into the wall.
With the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics now less than a month away, the timing could hardly be worse. Kim admitted she currently has little clarity on her availability for the Games, with an MRI scan scheduled for Friday set to determine the severity of the injury and her potential recovery timeline.
"I don't have much clarity right now," Kim stated, adding that she is trying to remain hopeful while awaiting the medical results.
Encouraging Signs Amid the Uncertainty
Despite the alarming nature of the dislocation, Kim reported some potentially positive news. She said the shoulder is not causing her significant pain and that she has retained her full range of motion. Her primary concern, however, is instability, noting that the joint has popped out more than once since the initial incident.
Kim emphasised that her form on snow had been exceptionally strong prior to the fall. This fuels optimism that, if medically cleared, she could return to competition swiftly. "I feel really good about where my snowboarding is at," she affirmed. "Once I'm cleared, I know I'll be ready."
The Stakes: A Place in Sporting History
This injury strikes at a pivotal moment in Kim's already legendary career. Having burst onto the global stage to win gold at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games aged just 17, she successfully defended her title four years later in Beijing. She is now attempting to become the first woman ever to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals in halfpipe snowboarding.
Kim secured her spot on the US team for Milano Cortina last spring after a stellar season where she won the 2025 world championship and finished ranked number one globally. In an Instagram caption accompanying her injury video, Kim described riding "waves of emotions" since the fall, mixing frustration with determination.
Her immediate focus is now on rest and aggressive rehabilitation. "The only thing I can do is rest/do everything in my power to come back as soon as possible," she wrote, adding wryly, "p.s. I think I am getting old." The sporting world now awaits Friday's MRI results, which will decide the fate of her unprecedented three-peat bid.
