South Korean prodigy Choi Gaon wins Womens Halfpipe gold at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026

At the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, 17-year-old South Korean prodigy Choi Gaon stunned two-time defending champion Chloe Kim to win the women’s snowboard halfpipe gold. Despite a shoulder injury and a dominant 90.25 in qualifying, USA’s Kim secured silver after falling on her final run. Japan’s Mitsuki Ono took bronze.The dramatic final saw 17-year-old Choi overcome an earlier fall to deliver a winning run, while Kim her mentor, failed to secure a historic third consecutive gold medal. “I’m so damn proud of her,” Kim said of Choi, recognizing the passing of the torch to a new generation. Despite falling in her final, Kim reflected on her performance positively, having competed just a month after a shoulder injury.