Chloe Kim Tops Olympic Halfpipe Qualifying

LIVIGNO, Italy - American snowboarder Chloe Kim advanced to the women's halfpipe final at the Milan-Cortina Olympics with a commanding performance in qualifying on Wednesday, posting the highest score of 90.25 on her first run and positioning herself for a potential third consecutive Olympic title.

Kim, a two-time gold medalist from the PyeongChang and Beijing Games, delivered a near-flawless routine that featured high-amplitude jumps and complex tricks, outpacing the field despite concerns over her recent injury. Just four weeks prior, she had suffered a shoulder injury that forced her to withdraw from a World Cup event and raised questions about her readiness as the pre-event favorite. Her return to competition showed no lingering effects, as she soared higher and executed maneuvers with greater difficulty than most competitors, securing her spot in Thursday's final without needing a second run.

The 24-year-old's score edged out Japan's Sara Shimizu, who finished second with 87.75, and fellow American Maddie Mastro, who took third at 86.00. Kim's performance recalled her dominant showings in past Olympics, where she has consistently redefined the sport's technical standards....