Chloe Kim’s shoulder injury puts her chances of a third Olympic win in snowboarding at risk

Chloe Kim Faces Injury Ahead of Winter Olympics

Chloe Kim, a prominent U.S. snowboarder, is facing a significant setback in her quest for a third consecutive Olympic gold medal after suffering an unexpected shoulder injury. Kim revealed on Thursday that she dislocated her shoulder following what she called the “stupidest fall” during practice, a blow to her ambitions for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in February.

Earlier in the week, she shared a video from Laax, Switzerland, where she was training. The footage shows her losing balance and tumbling down the halfpipe, which, unfortunately, becomes a pivotal moment for her preparations.

While Kim did not specify which shoulder was injured, she expressed a desire to remain optimistic, despite uncertainty about her recovery process. The 25-year-old is scheduled for an MRI on Friday to assess the damage. “The good thing is I have range and I’m not in as much pain. I just don’t want it to keep popping up, and that’s what happened,” she noted. “I’m trying to be really optimistic. I feel like my snowboarding is in great shape right now, so I know I’ll be fine as soon as I get the green light.”

This injury is particularly disappointing as it robs the Winter Olympics of one of its standout competitors. Kim aims to be the first action sports athlete to win three consecutive championships. Previously, Shaun White won three gold medals in halfpipe, but they were spread over a series of competitions rather than consecutively.

Kim rose to fame during the 2018 Olympics, winning gold in her parents’ homeland, South Korea. Four years later, she reclaimed her title in China, all while reminding the world of the complexities that accompany success and notoriety.

Recently, she broke barriers by executing the first 1260-degree spin by a woman in competition, adding to her list of impressive achievements. She’s been building her skill set ahead of the Milan-Cortina event, and if she recovers, she is likely to be a top contender. However, her injury creates doubt about her readiness. The women’s halfpipe Olympic qualifying round is set for February 11th.

With the Larks Open approaching next weekend, even if her medical check is positive, there’s still a chance she may head into the Olympics without competing in finals this season. Kim had a prior injury just last month during warm-ups at Copper Mountain, which led to her withdrawal from the event. Fortunately, those injuries were considered minor.