Gaon Choi Pulls Off Stunning Upset Over Chloe Kim in 2026 Olympic Halfpipe Final
The script was written for history. Chloe Kim, the dominant force in women’s halfpipe, dropped in at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno, looking to become the first snowboarder to win three consecutive gold medals. But in a sport defined by amplitude and risk, scripts often get shredded in the halfpipe.
In a final that swung from terrifying to triumphant, 17-year-old South Korean phenom Gaon Choi delivered the run of her life. After a heavy crash on her first attempt that silenced the crowd, Choi rallied to post a massive 90.25 on her final run, edging out Kim’s 88.00 and reshaping the Olympic podium. It was a changing of the guard that nobody saw coming—especially after the first round.
The Run That Changed Everything
The tension in Livigno was palpable from the start. Kim, riding with the confidence of a two-time defending champion, laid down an 88.00 on her first run. It was vintage Kim: huge air, technical precision, and that signature style that has defined the sport for nearly a decade. For a while, it looked like enough.
Across the pipe, Choi’s night started in the worst possible way. She took a frightening slam on her opening run, a crash hard enough that medical staff immediately attended to her. For a few tense minutes, it wasn’t clear if she would continue, let alone contend.
But the 17-year-old shook it off. After a shaky second run where she still couldn’t quite stick the landing, she dropped in for her third and final attempt with everything on the line.
She didn’t just land it; she stomped it. Combining massive amplitude with back-to-back 1080s and flawless execution, Choi put down a 90.25. The score forced the American into a must-land situation on her final drop. The defending champ went big, attempting to answer Choi’s technicality, but couldn’t hold on, falling on her last hit.
The Final Podium
When the snow settled, the leaderboard told the story of a new era in women’s snowboarding:
- Gold: Gaon Choi (South Korea) – 90.25
- Silver: Chloe Kim (USA) – 88.00
- Bronze: Mitsuki Ono (Japan) – 85.00
Mitsuki Ono deserves massive credit for her consistency. While all eyes were on the duel between the top two, Ono quietly put together a clinic in technical riding to secure the bronze with an 85.00, reinforcing Japan’s deep bench of talent in the halfpipe.
Resilience Defined the Night
The biggest takeaway from this final isn’t just the score; it’s the mental fortitude required to win.
For Choi, coming back from a crash that would have rattled most veterans showed a competitive maturity well beyond her years. She called the victory “the kind of story you only see in dreams,” acknowledging the wild emotional swing from the medical check to the top of the podium.
For Kim, the silver medal is bittersweet. She arrived in Italy, managing a reported shoulder issue, yet still put down the highest score of the first round. While she missed the historic “three-peat,” her second-place finish keeps her firmly among the sport’s all-time greats. Her sportsmanship was immediate, congratulating Choi in the finish area despite the obvious disappointment of the moment.
What This Means for Snowboarding
This result disrupts the narrative that has dominated women’s halfpipe since 2018. The American has been the bar against which every other rider is measured. Thursday, the South Korean cleared that bar.
The victory is a massive breakthrough for South Korean winter sports and signals that the next generation isn’t just coming—they’ve arrived. The progression of the sport was on full display, with double cork 1080s now becoming the standard required just to make the podium.
As we look toward the rest of the Games and the future World Cup circuit, the rivalry between the veteran queen and the teenage prodigy is just getting started.
FAQ
Q: What was the final score difference?
A: The margin was razor-thin. Gaon Choi won with a 90.25, defeating Chloe Kim by just 2.25 points (88.00).
Q: Did Chloe Kim get injured?
A: Reports indicate she was managing a shoulder issue coming into the event. She fell on her final run but had already secured silver with her first run score.
Q: Who took the bronze medal?
A: Japan’s Mitsuki Ono took third place with a solid score of 85.00.
A New Chapter
Thursday in Livigno, we witnessed more than just a competition; we saw the evolution of a sport. Choi’s victory reminds us that in the halfpipe, reputation doesn’t land tricks—riders do. While Chloe Kim’s legacy is secure, the South Korean has proven that the future of women’s snowboarding is in incredibly capable and courageous hands.
