The women's snowboard halfpipe at the 2026 Winter Olympics delivered drama and a clear passing-of-the-torch moment, as 17-year-old Choi Ga-on of South Korea claimed gold with a winning score of 90.25 in the final at Livigno Snow Park on February 12, 2026. Chloe Kim, the two-time reigning Olympic champion who had been bidding to become the first woman to win three straight halfpipe golds, took silver with an 88.00, and Japan's Mitsuki Ono earned bronze with 85.00. The event ran across qualification on February 11 and the final on February 12, and brought together 24 riders representing several nations.

The final, in brief

Choi's victory came on her third and deciding run, a high-risk, high-reward performance that followed two earlier mistakes and a visible recovery from a fall. Kim opened the final with a technically strong first run that set a high bar, but Choi's final score surpassed it, giving the teenage debutant the gold. The podium reflected both established excellence and emerging talent, with Kim's silver underscoring her continued dominance, and Choi's gold signaling rapid development in the field.

Key facts and figures

• Dates: Qualification, February 11, 2026; Final, February 12, 2026.
• Venue: Livigno Snow Park, Valtellina, Italy.
• Competitors: 24 athletes from multiple nations.

How the contest unfolded

The final was a study in momentum and composure. Kim's opening run, packed with amplitude and rotation, put pressure on the field, but she appeared to be managing an injury she sustained in January. Several riders attempted progressively more technical trick lines as the competition progressed, and Choi's third run combined big air, clean grabs, and a series of difficult rotations that judges rewarded.

Snow conditions and the physical layout of the Livigno halfpipe, which features steep walls and a wide channel, allowed for high-amplitude runs, but also punished errors. Multiple competitors took falls during the final, and the scoreboard shifted late, which is increasingly common in modern halfpipe where athletes save their most ambitious attempts for last.

The athletes and the narratives

Choi Ga-on, gold

Choi arrived at the Games as a rising name on the international circuit, and her victory at Livigno marks a breakthrough on the sport's biggest stage. At 17 and in her Olympic debut, she showed resilience by recovering from earlier mistakes in the final, and executed under pressure to secure the highest mark.

Chloe Kim, silver

Kim entered Milan Cortina 2026 as the defending champion from 2018 and 2022, and as the 2025 world champion. Her silver at Livigno does not diminish a remarkable career, but it does mean the historic three-peat was not achieved this time. Kim competed while managing a shoulder injury sustained in January, and her performance under such circumstances was widely described as courageous and accomplished.

Mitsuki Ono, bronze

Ono continued Japan's strong tradition in halfpipe with a steady, technically sound performance that earned bronze. Her score reflected consistency and clean execution, elements that are often decisive on Olympic scoring sheets.

Scores, judging and technical context

Judges score halfpipe runs on a combination of amplitude, difficulty, execution, variety, and progression. Each rider's best score from the final runs determines their placing. The final here reinforced current trends, with athletes pushing rotational difficulty while emphasizing clean landings and high amplitude.

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Simplified scoring logic used in finals

for each rider:
best_score = max(run1_score, run2_score, run3_score)
rank riders by best_score descending
```

Multiple perspectives

• From one viewpoint, Choi's win represents a coming-of-age, a sign that a new generation is ready to challenge long-established champions. Commentators hailed the run as a statement about youth and technical progression.
• From another perspective, Kim's silver is evidence of her lasting influence on the sport, an affirmation that even while coping with injury she remains among the world's best. For many observers, Kim's presence at the top of the leaderboard across three Games has shifted expectations and inspired a deeper talent pool.
• Some coaches and analysts raised questions about risk management, noting that athletes are attempting increasingly difficult tricks in finals, which raises both the spectacle and the stakes for injury.

The final felt like a handoff, with the podium honoring both an established icon and a bold newcomer, and the sport itself pushing forward in technique and ambition.

Conditions, venue and the role of Livigno

Livigno Snow Park provided a high, fast halfpipe that favored amplitude. Weather on competition days can and did play a role, as wind and light affect both judges' perception and athlete comfort. The resort's facilities and crowd created an electric atmosphere that lifted several riders, and at the same time, the pipe's scale demanded precision.

What this means for the sport

Choi Ga-on's gold is likely to accelerate interest in South Korean snowboarding and serve as inspiration for young riders across Asia and beyond. For the United States and for Chloe Kim personally, the result is a reminder that even dominant champions must account for evolving competition and physical limits. The sport's technical ceiling is rising, and with it, the narrative around athlete development, safety, and judging will intensify.

Looking ahead

Riders and national federations will be analyzing runs and training methods, as the next world cups and world championships will offer early signs of whether Choi's victory signals a sustained shift or a breakthrough that others will quickly answer. For Kim, the path forward will include recovery and reflection, and for fans, the Livigno final will be remembered as a turning point in Olympic halfpipe history.

Final thoughts

Olympic moments are rarely tidy, and the women's halfpipe at Livigno combined drama, skill, and the unexpected. The result honored veteran excellence, celebrated a new champion, and left open questions about the sport's direction, which is exactly the mix that keeps snowboarding captivating.

By David Anderson