Snowboarder Chloe Kim has confirmed her readiness for the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics despite sustaining a labrum tear in her shoulder during a recent training session in Switzerland. With less than a month left until the competition begins, Kim faces a tight deadline to recover fully.
Having clinched the gold in the last two Olympic halfpipe events, Kim shared an update on Instagram, expressing her determination to overcome the injury setback. She mentioned that the tear in her labrum, the shoulder socket’s lining, was less severe than anticipated. Although disappointed by the limited snowboarding practice leading up to the Olympics, Kim remains positive about her recovery.
The women’s Olympic halfpipe contest is scheduled to kick off on February 11. Kim, a 25-year-old snowboarding star, already secured her spot on the U.S. team and is regarded as a top contender for gold in Italy if she regains peak fitness. She confirmed her withdrawal from the upcoming Laax event and did not mention the Winter X Games in Aspen, the final major competition before the Olympics.
Kim’s injury struggles began at a competition in Copper Mountain last month, where she suffered a shoulder injury during warm-ups for the final round. Following her fall in Switzerland, Kim shared footage showing her sliding across the halfpipe after a jump landing mishap. Despite the challenges, she remains upbeat and determined to make a strong comeback.
In her social media post, Kim mentioned the discomfort of wearing a shoulder brace but expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete. The video also captured her reunion with her boyfriend, Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns, adding a personal touch to her journey back to full fitness.