Advances to Winter Olympic Women's Halfpipe Final in 6th Place in Qualifying
Three-peat Contender Chloe Kim Takes First, Setting Up Medal Battle
Final Scheduled for 3:30 a.m. on February 13 KST
High school snowboarder Choi Gaon (17, Sehwa Girls' High School) advanced to the final by ranking sixth overall in the women's halfpipe qualifying.
On the 11th (local time), Choi Gaon is competing in the second run of the women's snowboard halfpipe qualifying at the Livigno Snowpark in Italy during the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics. Yonhap News
On the 11th (local time), in the women's halfpipe qualifying at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics held at Livigno Snowpark in Italy, she scored 82.25 points and comfortably passed the qualifying round. Going out ninth in the first run, Choi Gaon cleanly landed five jumps and turns, showcasing overwhelmingly greater height compared with her competitors. In the second run, she failed the landing after the final jump, so her score was not released.
Snowboard halfpipe is an event in which athletes ride down an inclined semi-cylindrical slope while performing aerial tricks. Judges score factors such as height, rotation, technique, and difficulty to determine the rankings. The better score of the two qualifying runs is counted, and the top 12 athletes advance to the final. The final will take place at 3:30 a.m. on the 13th, Korea time.
Choi Gaon is delivering a fantastic performance in the women's snowboard halfpipe qualifying at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, held at the Livigno Snowpark in Italy. Livigno=Yonhap News
Born in November 2008, Choi Gaon is a highly touted prospect who captured global attention by becoming the youngest winner (14 years and 3 months) in the pipe event at the world-renowned extreme sports competition X Games in 2023. She competed in a World Cup event held in Laax, Switzerland, in early 2024, but suffered a serious back injury during training and underwent surgery. After dedicating a full year to rehabilitation, she made a complete comeback.
Choi Gaon claimed three victories in the 2025-2026 season International Ski Federation (FIS) Snowboard World Cup, earning recognition as a strong favorite for the gold medal at these Olympics. If Choi Gaon wins gold in the women's snowboard halfpipe, she will become the first athlete ever to capture a gold medal in the history of Korean skiing at the Winter Olympics.
Chloe Kim, a Korean American athlete attempting an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic title in snowboard events, topped the field with 90.25 points. She was the only rider to score in the 90s. Although she injured her shoulder ahead of this competition, she still displayed overwhelming skill and raised expectations for a gold medal.
Shimizu Sara of Japan placed second with 87.50 points, and Maddie Mastro of the United States took third with 86 points. Lee Nayoon of Kyung Hee University, who competed alongside Choi Gaon, scored 35 points in the first qualifying run but felt pain in her right knee and withdrew from the second run.
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