Two-time Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim insists she is still on track for the Milan Cortina Olympics even after tearing her labrum during a training crash last week in Switzerland.
At a Glance
- Kim tore the shoulder socket lining while preparing for the Laax Open
- She will skip this weekend’s contest and likely the Aspen X Games
- The women’s halfpipe competition in Italy begins Feb. 11
- Why it matters: Limited on-snow reps could test the heavy favorite’s bid for a third gold
The 25-year-old revealed the diagnosis Tuesday in an Instagram video, explaining that the tear occurred when she fell on a practice run. Kim did not specify which shoulder was hurt, but she noted the injury pattern she sustained is the less severe of two possible types.
“There are two ways to do it, and the way I did it is less severe than the other, so I’m really happy about that,” she told followers. “Obviously, I’m really disappointed that I can’t snowboard until right before the Olympics, which is going to be hard. I haven’t gotten nearly the amount of reps that I would have liked, but that’s OK.”
Olympic timeline tightens
With the Olympic halfpipe contest scheduled to open on Feb. 11, Kim now faces a compressed preparation window. She has already secured her spot on the U.S. team and is considered the woman to beat if physically sound.
Kim’s competitive workload this season has been minimal:
- Copper Mountain last month – her lone start
- Laax Open this weekend – will not enter
- X Games Aspen later this month – no mention of participation
During warm-ups for the Copper final she hurt the same joint, foreshadowing the latest setback.
Recovery routine
In Tuesday’s update Kim said she will wear what she jokingly called a “super-sexy shoulder brace,” acknowledging the device is uncomfortable. She described cycling through “a bunch of different waves of emotions” but finished the clip upbeat, adding, “honestly, I’m really excited for this week.”
The video ended with a lighthearted moment: Kim picking up boyfriend Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns defensive end, at a train station. “I’m so grateful to be able to do this even though the lows can get pretty damn low,” she wrote in the accompanying caption.
Competitive outlook
Despite scant time on snow, Kim remains the sport’s benchmark. Her two Olympic victories and dominant amplitude set a high bar for rivals. The truncated competition schedule means she will enter Italy with fewer recent contest runs than in past seasons, placing extra emphasis on private training sessions once cleared to ride.
Amanda S. Bennett contributed reporting. News Of Losangeles first published the story.
