Choi Gaon won the women's halfpipe at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

This stunning upset unfolded on February 12, 2026, in Livigno at the Milano Cortina Games, where the 17-year-old South Korean phenom overcame a massive early fall to claim gold with a final-run score of 90.25. Two-time defending champion Chloe Kim (USA) settled for silver at 88.00 after her strong opening run, while Japan's Mitsuki Ono grabbed bronze at 85.00.

Event Highlights

  • Choi's Comeback : The Olympic debutante, now the youngest women's halfpipe gold medalist ever, dazzled with technical tricks and amplitude that judges couldn't ignore, turning a potential disaster into history.
  • Kim's Near Three-Peat : Despite a score deserving of the low 90s per fans (switch double cork 1080, consecutive 900s), a slightly messy landing and later runs factored in; she still cements her legacy post her 2025 world title.
  • Weather and Drama : A two-hour delay tested everyone mentally, echoing Kim's past burnout recovery through therapy.

Forum Buzz

Fans lit up Reddit's r/olympics, debating scores passionately:

Chloe unfortunately erred by delivering her strongest performance at the beginning... There are numerous minor details... grabs, height, complexity.

  • Many praised judging nuance (grabs, landings, switch vs. backside) but griped about subjectivity: "All judged sports are fundamentally flawed."
  • Others defended: Chloe's opener was tougher, yet podium calls felt off; calls for objective racing formats like boardercross grew.
  • Trending vibe: Excitement for new-gen stars like Choi vs. legends like Kim (X Games ties with Shaun White).

Trending Context

This race mirrored 2022's Eileen Gu dominance but flipped to youth triumph, fueling talks on mental resilience amid high-stakes pressure. Kim eyes future tricks like the 1260; Choi signals Asia's rising snowboard wave. Fresh off 2025 Worlds prep, it caps a wild Olympic cycle.

TL;DR: South Korea's Choi Gaon (17) shocked with 90.25 gold over Chloe Kim's 88.00 silver in women's snowboard halfpipe finals—pure comeback magic amid score debates.

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