The quest for a historic third consecutive Olympic gold medal has hit a major setback for American snowboarding sensation Chloe Kim. The 25-year-old dislocated her shoulder during a training session in Switzerland, throwing her participation in next month's Milano Cortina Winter Games into serious doubt.
Training Fall in Laax Puts Olympic Dream on Hold
The incident occurred while Kim was training in Laax, a key World Cup venue and a regular stop for athletes preparing for major competitions. Video shared by the athlete shows her landing a manoeuvre cleanly before losing her edge, sliding across the halfpipe and into the wall. The fall resulted in a dislocated shoulder, a significant blow with the Winter Olympics less than four weeks away.
Kim revealed the injury on Thursday, stating she currently has little clarity on her competitive future. An MRI scan scheduled for Friday will determine the severity of the injury and establish a potential timeline for recovery. "I don't have much clarity right now," Kim admitted, adding she is trying to remain hopeful while awaiting the medical results.
Encouraging Signs Amidst the Uncertainty
Despite the dislocation, Kim reported that the shoulder is not causing significant pain and that she has retained her full range of motion. These factors could be positive indicators for a swift recovery. Her primary concern, however, is joint instability, noting the shoulder has popped out more than once since the initial incident.
The two-time Olympic champion emphasised that her form on snow had been exceptionally strong prior to the accident. "I feel really good about where my snowboarding is at," she said. "Once I'm cleared, I know I'll be ready." This confidence suggests that if medical clearance is granted, Kim could return to competition at her dominant best.
A Pivotal Moment for a Snowboarding Legend
The timing of this injury is particularly cruel. Kim is attempting to become the first woman ever to win three straight Olympic gold medals in halfpipe snowboarding. She first captured the world's attention by winning gold at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games at just 17 years old, before successfully defending her title at the Beijing 2022 Olympics.
Her place on the US team for Milano Cortina was secured last spring following a stellar season where she won the 2025 world championship and finished the year ranked number one globally. In an Instagram post accompanying the video of her fall, Kim described riding "waves of emotions," mixing frustration with a determined resolve. Her immediate focus is on rest and rehabilitation.
"The only thing I can do is rest and do everything in my power to come back as soon as possible," she wrote, adding a light-hearted note: "p.s. I think I am getting old." The snowboarding world now awaits Friday's MRI results, which will decide the fate of one of the sport's most celebrated Olympic campaigns.
