As the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina get underway, few American athletes are drawing more attention than snowboard star Chloe Kim. The two-time Olympic gold medalist has been a major focus heading into the Games, not only because of her dominance in the halfpipe, but also because her participation was recently thrown into doubt after a serious injury.

Kim, who previously won Olympic gold in 2018 and 2022, suffered a setback in early January that raised immediate concern about whether she would be able to compete in Italy. The timing couldn’t have been worse, coming just weeks before the Opening Ceremony.

According to reports, Kim injured her shoulder during a training session in preparation for a pre-Olympic competition in Switzerland. She explained that the accident happened after what she described as a minor fall, but the consequences were major. During the incident, Kim dislocated her shoulder and later learned she had torn the labrum.

Kim opened up about the injury in an Instagram video, calling it a “silly” fall that quickly turned serious. In the caption, she admitted she was scared about what the injury could mean for her Olympic hopes. At that point, she had not yet received an MRI and was waiting for answers. The scan the next day confirmed the torn labrum diagnosis, a painful injury that often requires extensive recovery time.

Despite the uncertainty, Kim ultimately received encouraging news: she has been cleared to compete in the 2026 Games.

However, her road back to full strength wasn’t easy. In the weeks leading up to the Olympics, Kim had to reduce her training significantly and prioritize recovery. She also skipped the final pre-Olympic World Cup competition in Switzerland. In fact, she reportedly stayed off her snowboard entirely until close to the start of the Games, limiting her time to prepare at full intensity.

During the recovery process, Kim leaned on advice from one of the sport’s most famous names: Shaun White. White, a legendary Olympic snowboarder himself, knows what it’s like to fight through injury before the Games. He reminded Kim that Olympic journeys are rarely smooth and that setbacks are part of the process. White encouraged her to focus on healing and trust that she could still return strong enough to perform when it matters most.

Now, Kim is officially set to compete in her signature event, the women’s snowboard halfpipe. The qualification round is scheduled for Wednesday, February 11, with the final taking place the next day on Thursday, February 12.

Kim enters the Olympics with an already historic resume. She currently holds two Olympic gold medals, both earned in the halfpipe. Her first came in 2018, when she became one of the breakout stars of the Games, and her second followed in 2022, confirming her status as the top halfpipe rider of her generation.

This year, she’s chasing an even bigger milestone. Kim is aiming to become the first woman to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals in snowboard halfpipe — a record that would cement her legacy in Olympic history.

With her injury behind her and her sights set on a third straight title, all eyes will be on Chloe Kim as she attempts yet another unforgettable Olympic run.