Chloe Kim was looking to make history at the Winter Olympics in Italy on Thursday, aiming for her third consecutive gold medal in the halfpipe final.
After posting an 88.0 — a score that put her atop the leaderboard — the pressure intensified. South Korea’s 17-year-old Gaon Choi, who had fallen on her first two runs like several other snowboarders amid challenging weather conditions, delivered a monster score of 90.25 on her third and final attempt, shifting the spotlight squarely onto Kim.
On her own third run, however, Kim fell, ultimately settling for silver. Choi captured gold, while Japan’s Mitsuki Ono claimed bronze.
Choi was widely viewed as Kim’s biggest threat entering the event, and that’s exactly how it unfolded. Despite the disappointment, Kim drew widespread praise for what she did next — she was the very first to greet the 17-year-old and congratulate her on a monumental victory.
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“Chloe Kim may be the coolest person on the face of the planet,” one fan said.
Another added, “Chloe Kim immediately going to hug her to congratulate her — it’s so cute.”
One person wrote, “Respect between champions. That hug meant more than any medal.”
“Chloe Kim showing why she’s a legend — class act as always,” another fan shared.
One more commented, “She’s all class, just like her boyfriend.”
Kim, now 25, has captured her third Olympic medal — a remarkable achievement. Winning a third consecutive gold in the halfpipe final would have placed her in a category of her own, as even the great Shaun White was never able to do it. Still, a silver medal is nothing to scoff at for Kim.
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