Chloe Kim’s Olympic three-peat foiled by mentee Gaon Choi : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5824x3883+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2F7e%2F10ffd663449a877f63bcd35a8110%2Fgettyimages-2261307014.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5824x3883+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2F7e%2F10ffd663449a877f63bcd35a8110%2Fgettyimages-2261307014.jpg" class="img" alt="Chloe Kim (L), Gaon Choi (C) and Mitsuki Ono celebrate with their medals after the women's snowboard halfpipe event in Livigno, Italy on Thursday." fetchpriority="high"/> Chloe Kim (L), Gaon Choi (C) and Mitsuki Ono have a good time with their medals after the ladies's snowboard halfpipe occasion in Livigno, Italy on Thursday. Cameron Spencer/Getty Photographs disguise caption

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Cameron Spencer/Getty Photographs Need extra Olympics updates? Subscribe right here to get our publication, Rachel Goes to the Video games, delivered to your inbox for a behind-the-scenes take a look at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

MILAN — U.S. snowboarder Chloe Kim's quest for a historic Olympic halfpipe three-peat was foiled by none apart from her teenage protégé.

Kim took residence silver, after 17-year-old Gaon Choi of South Korea rebounded from a dramatic crash to overhaul her within the remaining run.

"It is the type of story you solely see in desires, so I am extremely joyful it occurred at present," Choi stated afterward.

Kim, 25, was inside arm's attain of turning into the primary halfpipe snowboarder to win three consecutive Olympic golds. Regardless of a last-minute shoulder harm, she cruised simply via Wednesday's qualifiers, which have been really her first competitors of the season.

And she or he was wanting like a lock via a lot of Thursday's remaining — underneath a lightweight nighttime snowfall in Livigno — which hinged on the very best of three runs.

Kim's sturdy first displaying gave her 88 factors and an early lead, which she held for almost all of the competitors as many different contenders — together with her U.S. teammates Bea Kim and Maddy Mastro — fell on a number of of their runs.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5244x3496+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F72%2Fb9%2F4554cd504904bfd2ac8a000a6540%2Fap26043682871468.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5244x3496+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F72%2Fb9%2F4554cd504904bfd2ac8a000a6540%2Fap26043682871468.jpg" class="img" alt="A big crash nearly ended Choi's night early, but after a medical exam she returned to the halfpipe slope for two more runs." loading="lazy"/> A giant crash almost ended Choi's night time early, however after a medical examination she returned to the halfpipe slope for 2 extra runs. Gregory Bull/AP disguise caption

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Gregory Bull/AP Choi additionally took a heavy fall on her opening run, needing a concussion examine. She nearly missed her second flip, solely to fall once more. However a powerful third run propelled her to the highest of the leaderboard, with 90.25 factors.

"It wasn't a lot about having enormous resolve," she stated later. "I simply saved desirous about the approach I used to be initially doing."

Then all eyes have been on Kim, the final rider of the night time, with an opportunity to retake the lead. However she fell on her cab double cork 1080, a trick she had landed cleanly in earlier runs, which caught her along with her unique rating. Choi and her crew broke down in joyful sobs and cheers instantly.

As Choi wiped her eyes, a beaming Kim greeted her on the photograph end with a heat hug. As they lined up alongside bronze medalist Mitsuki Ono of Japan, Kim stood to Choi's facet and pointed at her excitedly.

"I've recognized [Choi] since she was little, and it means quite a bit to see that I've impressed the following technology and so they're now out right here killing it," Kim stated afterward.

Choi is identical age Kim was in 2018 when she grew to become the youngest girl to win an Olympic snowboard medal.

The 2 have recognized one another for almost a decade, a bond that started when Choi's father struck up a friendship with Kim's dad — who emigrated from South Korea to the U.S. — within the lead-up to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5204x3470+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3a%2F1f%2F90894f90400e8c36770ca5c0ffd7%2Fgettyimages-2261304731.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5204x3470+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3a%2F1f%2F90894f90400e8c36770ca5c0ffd7%2Fgettyimages-2261304731.jpg" class="img" alt="Kim (R) gave Choi (L) a warm reception after the last run of the night." loading="lazy"/> Kim (R) gave Choi (L) a heat reception after the final run of the night time. Patrick Smith/Getty Photographs Europe disguise caption

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Patrick Smith/Getty Photographs Europe "Chloe's dad did a number of mentoring to my dad," Choi stated after profitable the primary World Cup she entered in 2023, at age 14. "I did not know a lot as a result of I used to be younger, however Chloe's dad gave my dad a number of recommendation. It made me who I'm at present."

Kim and her dad helped deliver Choi to the U.S. to coach with at California's Mammoth Mountain, and maintained a supportive relationship. Kim spoke extremely of Choi at an earlier press convention, calling it a "full-circle second" and saying she sees "a mirror reflection of myself and my household."

"We're seeing an enormous shift to Asians being dominant in snow sports activities," she added. "I've had aunts telling me that I should not snowboard, get an actual profession, deal with college. It is cool to see that shift occurring."

Choi's victory makes her the primary feminine Korean athlete to win a medal in snow sports activities. That is additionally South Korea's first snowboard gold.

"I need to introduce this sport extra to my nation via my efficiency at this Olympics," Choi informed Olympics.com earlier than the Video games. "I additionally imagine that having fun with the Video games is simply as vital as reaching good outcomes."