Choi Gaon tops women’s halfpipe final to end Kim’s reign

Chloe Kim’s run as Olympic halfpipe champion ended in dramatic fashion as 17-year-old Choi Gaon (also written choi ga-on or gaon choi) stomped her last run to win the 2026 winter olympics women’s snowboarding halfpipe. Competing in her Olympic debut on Thursday night in Livigno (12 February), Choi recovered from heavy falls on her first two runs and produced a monster final score of 90.25 to move ahead of Kim, whose opening score of 88.00 held until that dramatic last attempt.

Kim was trying to become the first snowboarder to win three straight Olympic golds in the women’s halfpipe final, having taken gold in PyeongChang in 2018 as a 17-year-old and again in Beijing. She could not land her final run and settled for silver, smiling on the podium despite the disappointment. Japan’s Mitsuki Ono completed the podium with 85.00 for bronze.

Final runs and key moments from the women’s halfpipe final

• Choi Gaon: Final run — 90.25 (gold). After a brutal fall on her first run that required medical attention, choi ga-on rallied with a flawless last attempt.
• Chloe Kim: First run — 88.00 (silver). Her early score looked like it would stand until Choi’s late heroics; Kim fell on her third attempt.
• Mitsuki Ono: 85.00 (bronze).

Choi’s comeback was remarkable: she had a heavy fall on her opening run but managed to walk away under her own power, then suffered another fall on run two before delivering the run of her life. The victory made her the youngest snowboarding gold medalist in Olympic history at 17 years and 101 days, topping Red Gerard’s previous mark of 17 years and 227 days from 2018.

What this result means for the sport and the athletes

Choi’s win confirmed her status as a prodigy. She had already won X Games gold at 14, and made history as the first athlete from the Republic of Korea to win an Olympic gold in snow sports. For Chloe Kim, the womens halfpipe final highlighted both her dominance in the sport and the narrow margins at the top. She remains an Olympic legend after back-to-back golds. But was denied a third straight title when gaon choi delivered a spectacular final effort.

Fans and analysts watching the women’s halfpipe were reminded of chloe kim olympics pedigree, and questions about chloe kim age and experience only reinforced how exceptional her run of Olympic success has been. Yet the young field continues to close the gap.

The podium and the moment

Choi Gaon lit up Livigno with her final run. And the scene quickly became a landmark moment for Korean winter sport. Kim accepted silver with grace on the medal stand. While Ono’s bronze capped a tight, competitive final that showcased big tricks, high stakes and dramatic swings in fortune.

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