Snowboarding superstar Chloe Kim has declared herself ready for the upcoming Winter Olympics, despite suffering a significant shoulder injury during a training session in Switzerland last week. The two-time defending gold medalist in the women's halfpipe revealed she has torn the labrum in her shoulder, setting up a dramatic race against the clock to prepare for the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
A Painful Setback in Switzerland
The injury occurred while Kim was training for the Laax Open in Switzerland. In a video posted to her Instagram account, the 25-year-old athlete was seen losing her balance on the landing of a jump, causing her to skitter across the halfpipe. Initially, she believed she had only dislocated the shoulder and reported minimal pain. However, a subsequent MRI last Friday confirmed the more serious diagnosis: a torn labrum, which is the lining of the socket that stabilizes the shoulder joint.
In her social media update, Kim expressed a mix of emotions. "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 stated, finding a silver lining in the severity of the tear. Nonetheless, she admitted disappointment at being sidelined. "Obviously, I’m really disappointed that I can’t snowboard until right before the Olympics, which is going to be hard," Kim said, acknowledging the challenge of limited training time.
The Road to Recovery and Olympic Gold
Kim's path to a potential third consecutive Olympic gold medal is now fraught with difficulty. The women's Olympic halfpipe competition is scheduled for February 11, giving her less than a month to rehabilitate and regain her competitive form. As a result of the injury, she has withdrawn from this weekend's Laax Open and made no mention of participating in the Winter X Games in Aspen later this month, which serves as the final major tune-up before the Olympics.
This season has been particularly challenging for the champion snowboarder. Her only competition so far was last month at Copper Mountain, where she also sustained a shoulder injury during warm-ups for the final. With her training "reps" severely limited, Kim faces an uphill battle. However, having already qualified for the U.S. Olympic team, she remains the heavy favourite for the podium in Italy—if she can return to full health.
Managing the Injury and Maintaining Positivity
Part of Kim's recovery will involve wearing what she humorously called a "super-sexy shoulder brace," which she described as uncomfortable. Despite the physical and emotional lows, the athlete is focusing on the positive. "I went through a bunch of different waves of emotions, but honestly, I’m really excited for this week," she shared in her video.
The clip concluded on a light-hearted note, showing Kim picking up her boyfriend, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, at a train station. In her caption, she reflected on her journey: "I’m so grateful to be able to do this even though the lows can get pretty damn low. Excited for a week of exploration!" Her resilience and determined outlook will be tested as the clock ticks down to the opening of the Olympic halfpipe contest, where the world will be watching to see if Chloe Kim can overcome this painful setback and make history once again.
