Topline
U.S snowboarder Chloe Kim won the gold medal in the women’s halfpipe event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics on Thursday, in a victory that cements her superstardom in the sport and follows her spectacular gold-winning Olympics debut at Pyeongchang four years ago.
Key Facts
Kim was awarded 94 points on her first run, a score that wasn’t topped by any of her opponents in three runs during the final.
The silver medal was won by Queralt Castellet of Spain whose best score was 90.25 in her second run and Sena Tomita of Japan won bronze with a score of 88.25.
The American snowboarder performed two 1080s, three spins in her medal-winning run and she had the highest amplitude (jump height) of any rider.
Kim’s gold winning performance was watched by the International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and U.S.-born Chinese skier and gold medal winner Eileen Gu who lent over and gave the snowboarder a hug after one of her runs.
Surprising Fact
Kim is only the second snowboarder in Olympic history who has successfully defended her gold medal in the halfpipe competition after fellow American Shaun White, who won back to back golds in 2006 and 2010.
Key Background
The 21-year-old’s victory game despite her not having good practice sessions leading into the competition, according to U.S. coach Mike Jankowski. Kim acknowledged this and told reporters that she has been in this situation many times and she “reset and reminded myself that it’s just another run.” With the leading score of 94 in the bag, Kim attempted to pull off a much more difficult 1260 (three and half spins) in the second run which she could not manage to stick. With the gold already in her bag at the start of her third run she once again went for the difficult move and nearly managed to pull off the 1260 before falling and gliding the rest of the way. The snowboarder vaulted into stardom four years ago at the last Winter Games in South Korea’s Pyeongchang where she won gold in front of an adoring crowd and her parents—who had immigrated to the U.S. from South Korea.
Further Reading
Kim rides big 1st run to defense of Olympic halfpipe title (Associated Press)
A Teen Sensation Grows Up (New York Times)
