Chloe Kim, the renowned American snowboarder, reported a shoulder dislocation after an unfortunate fall during a training session in Laax, Switzerland, this week. The incident, which she described as "the silliest fall," occurred as she was preparing for a crucial pre-Olympic event in anticipation of the Winter Games scheduled for next month in Milan-Cortina, Italy.
Kim shared footage of the mishap, capturing her tumble and subsequent slide across the halfpipe surface. Despite not disclosing which shoulder was injured, she conveyed cautious optimism about her ability to participate in the upcoming Olympics, stating, "I don’t have much clarity now." The athlete is scheduled to undergo an MRI this Friday, which will provide detailed information regarding the extent of her shoulder damage.
"The positive aspect is that I retain range of motion and am not experiencing significant pain," Kim explained. "However, I am concerned about the joint repeatedly popping out, which has occurred. My focus is on staying optimistic. I feel confident about my current snowboarding form, so once I am medically cleared, I anticipate performing well."
Kim’s potential absence from the Winter Olympics would be a significant loss, as she is one of the most prominent figures in the event, providing compelling narratives around action sports. Her pursuit of a third consecutive Olympic gold medal in snowboarding sets her apart in the history of the discipline. Though Shaun White secured three halfpipe Olympic gold medals, his victories spanned five Olympic Games, making Kim’s potential consecutive streak unprecedented.
Kim's rise to fame began at the 2018 Winter Olympics, where as a vibrant teenager, she clinched gold in Pyeongchang, South Korea, her parents’ homeland. She successfully defended her title at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, showcasing resilience in navigating the pressures tied to success and media attention.
Throughout her career, no competitor has come close to surpassing her achievements. Notably, two years ago at the Winter X Games, Kim became the first woman to execute a 1260-degree spin in competition. She also pioneered landing the double-cork 1080—comprising two flips and one spin—and consecutive 1080-degree rotations. Prior to this injury, she was training to expand her technical repertoire for the Milan-Cortina Games, positioning her as a strong frontrunner for gold, contingent on full health.
The women's halfpipe Olympic qualifying rounds are set for February 11. The Laax Open, scheduled for the weekend following her injury, could represent her last competitive event before the Olympics, though participation remains uncertain depending on her recovery timeline.
This snowboarding season, Kim has maintained a relatively light competition schedule, securing her U.S. Olympic team qualification via a victory at a contest in the previous year. However, she also experienced a shoulder injury last month during warmups at Copper Mountain, Colorado, leading to her withdrawal from the final. That earlier injury was not considered serious.
Addressing the current injury, Kim expressed hope for a swift recovery, "It should be fine. I’m just hoping that it doesn’t take too long, but I’m going to be chilling for the next little while." Her readiness to compete remains pending medical clearance and rehabilitation.