Chloe Kim's pursuit of a third consecutive Olympic gold medal in women's halfpipe snowboarding has been thrown into doubt after the American dislocated her shoulder during a training session in Switzerland. The 25-year-old sustained the injury while training in Laax, a regular World Cup venue and a key pre-Olympic stop on the circuit.
Kim revealed the injury on Thursday, sharing video of the fall that caused the scare. She landed a manoeuvre cleanly but lost her edge shortly afterwards, sliding awkwardly across the pipe and into the wall. An MRI scheduled for Friday is expected to determine the severity of the injury and the timeline for her return.
Speaking about the incident, Kim said: 'I don't have much clarity right now.' She added that she is doing everything she can to remain hopeful while awaiting medical results. Despite the dislocation, the shoulder is not causing significant pain and she has retained her range of motion, though she noted instability, with the joint popping out more than once since the initial injury.
The injury comes less than a month before the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, where Kim was aiming to become the first woman to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals in halfpipe. She won gold at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games at age 17, and defended her title four years later in Beijing. She secured her place on the US Olympic team last spring after winning the 2025 world championship and finishing the season ranked number one in the world.
Despite the setback, Kim remains optimistic about her form on snow before the fall. 'I feel really good about where my snowboarding is at,' she said. 'Once I'm cleared, I know I'll be ready.' On Instagram, she described riding through 'waves of emotions' and said her immediate focus is rest and rehabilitation with the goal of returning as soon as possible.
