Reigning snowboard champ Chloe Kim goes for third-straight gold

Chloe Kim makes it look easy.

The two-time gold medalist in the women’s snowboard halfpipe sailed through qualifications on Wednesday to land a spot in the finals — which take place the very next day.

Kim, 25, completed the qualifying run all while wearing a shoulder brace for an injury she sustained just four weeks ago.

She comes to the Milan Cortina Olympics as the reigning champ of the event, having claimed gold in the women’s halfpipe event in 2018 and 2022.

If anyone was worried the fall during a training run ahead of these Games was going to jeopardize Kim’s chances as the gold-medal favorite, think again. She easily finished first in the qualifying run.

When she was done, she smiled huge for the camera and stuck out her tongue.

“I’ve been doing this for 22 years,” said Kim, who is 25. “Muscle memory is a thing.”

Team USA snowboarder Chloe Kim shares her thoughts on the meaning of success ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

If Kim can win gold, she’ll be the first snowboarder to win three straight Olympic gold medals.

The three-time Olympian from California will have some steep competition in Japan’s Sara Shimizu and Sena Tomita, as well as fellow American Maddie Mastro.

How to watch snowboard halfpipe final?

American snowboarder’s Chloe Kim, Bea Kim and Maddie Mastro will compete in the women’s halfpipe final.

Each of the 12 finalists will take three turns at the halfpipe, with their best score used to determine placement.

The first of the halfpipe runs begins Thursday at 1:30 p.m. ET.