Chloe Kim, the U.S. snowboarder, celebrated a silver medal finish in the women's halfpipe snowboarding finals at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics in Livigno, Italy, on Thursday, despite her bid for a historic three-peat being thwarted by her teenage protégé. Kim's jubilant reaction to the silver medal, a stark contrast to the expectations surrounding her, stemmed from a recent injury that threatened her participation in the games.
Kim had previously won gold medals at the 2018 PyeongChang and 2022 Beijing Olympics. However, a dislocated left shoulder suffered in early January cast doubt on her ability to compete. According to Time, Kim expressed that she "wasn't even sure if I would be here" a month prior to the event. Her participation in the games was further complicated by a torn labrum, as reported by NPR News.
The competition saw Kim's protégé take the gold, ending her quest for a third consecutive Olympic title. Despite this, Kim's reaction was one of joy. As reported by NPR News, Kim, along with the gold medalist and Mitsuki Ono, celebrated with their medals.
The circumstances surrounding Kim's silver medal highlight the challenges athletes face and the significance of perseverance. The medal, according to Kim, may "wind up meaning more to her than the golds she took home" from previous Olympics, as reported by Time.
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