Chloe Kim chases an Olympic halfpipe three-peat, regardless of damage : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5646x3764+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffa%2Fee%2F87a508964f35943965fc29a7c598%2Fap26040371451888.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5646x3764+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffa%2Fee%2F87a508964f35943965fc29a7c598%2Fap26040371451888.jpg" class="img" alt="Chloe Kim speaks during a press conference in Livigno, Italy on Monday, days ahead of the women's halfpipe qualifiers." fetchpriority="high"/> Chloe Kim speaks throughout a press convention in Livigno, Italy on Monday, days forward of the ladies's halfpipe qualifiers. Lindsey Wasson/AP disguise caption

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MILAN — Chloe Kim was simply 17 when she gained halfpipe gold on the 2018 PyeongChang Video games, changing into the youngest lady to win an Olympic snowboard medal. She made historical past once more when she gained her second — additionally gold — in Beijing.

Now 25 and the "proud proprietor of a frontal lobe," Kim is hoping to three-peat, a feat that no halfpipe snowboarder has ever completed.

But it surely will not be simple, particularly since Kim is coming into the Olympics with a shoulder damage that saved her from coaching in latest weeks.

"I've a lot nervousness, however fortunately I've matcha and there is good vibes right here and my household's out right here, so we'll be good," Kim stated forward of Wednesday's qualifier.

She tore her labrum — a hoop of cartilage lining the shoulder socket — whereas coaching in Switzerland in late January, simply weeks after a crash throughout apply pressured her to drag out of a World Cup occasion in Colorado. The Olympics are literally the primary competitors of the season for Kim, who certified a yr prematurely.

Kim instructed reporters that she resumed coaching about two weeks in the past, rocking a "very securely taped" shoulder brace. She feels just like the brace has made her driving higher, maybe extra regular, as a result of she will't transfer her trailing arm as a lot as she usually would.

"I believe as soon as we're in there and as soon as we're specializing in what we wish to do, the tips we wish to do, all the pieces, my thoughts goes fully clean," Kim added. "I am not eager about my shoulder. I am simply eager about what I am making an attempt to perform on this run. And yeah, it has been understanding fairly properly."

Kim recalled that she had an "terrible apply" proper earlier than her competitors in Beijing, the place she scored so excessive in her first run that even falls within the second and third did not preserve her from a gold medal. Kim says whereas she's at all times anxious ready on the high, she's assured that her muscle reminiscence will kick in.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3841x2561+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F79%2Fb2%2F525b4fe04b85a98e55e09e97f4ab%2Fap22041137832809.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3841x2561+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F79%2Fb2%2F525b4fe04b85a98e55e09e97f4ab%2Fap22041137832809.jpg" class="img" alt="Chloe Kim of Team USA won her second Olympic gold in Beijing in 2022." loading="lazy"/> Chloe Kim of Group USA gained her second Olympic gold in Beijing in 2022. Lee Jin-man/AP disguise caption

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Lee Jin-man/AP "I similar to to remind myself that each run is a brand new run, a model new alternative, and simply because I had an hour of dangerous snowboarding doesn't suggest that the following 45 seconds are additionally going to be dangerous," she added.

Kim remained dominant within the years after Beijing, selecting up two extra X Video games gold medals, two World Cups and a 3rd world championship in 2025.

She says her run for the Olympics is one she's by no means completed earlier than.

"I believe if I can pull that off, no matter the place I place, I will be actually content material with that," Kim stated. "However yeah, all the pieces's feeling good. I've all of the items completed and dialed, so I simply must put all the pieces all collectively."

Kim is one among two dozen girls who will take to the halfpipe on Wednesday to battle for a spot in Thursday's medal occasion. There will likely be three different People amongst them: Bea Kim, Maddie Mastro and Maddy Schaffrick.

Regardless of her damage, Kim continues to be thought-about a favourite for gold. One in all her greatest threats might come from Korea's Gaon Choi, who's 17 — the age Kim was when she gained her first Olympics. Choin has described Kim as her idol.

Kim was stuffed with reward for Choi, whom she has identified for years. She referred to as this a full-circle second, including that it does make her really feel outdated.

"I met her when she actually began halfpipe snowboarding," stated Kim, whose dad and mom emigrated from Korea. "Generally it looks like I am seeing a mirror reflection of myself and my household."