Secret Files: Is the Queen of Halfpipe About to be Dethroned in Livigno?
Whispers in the waxing rooms suggest the 2026 women’s halfpipe final won’t be a coronation—it’ll be a coup. Here’s the insider intel on the teenage revolution coming for Chloe Kim.
I’ve been hanging around the Livigno Snow Park all week, and if you listen closely to the chatter between the wax techs and the team physios, the vibe is... tense. We’re used to the narrative being “Chloe Kim shows up, does a victory lap, collects Gold”. But let me tell you, the script for Milano-Cortina 2026 has been rewritten while we were all looking the other way.
The word on the mountain isn't just about who is winning—it's about who is surviving. And right now, the gap between the legend and the prodigies has never been smaller.
The Shoulder That Shook the World
Let’s address the elephant in the room (or rather, the brace in the bib). Chloe Kim is undoubtedly the GOAT. Two Olympic golds, stats that look like video game cheat codes. But sources close to the US camp are tight-lipped about that shoulder injury from December. She’s here, she’s riding, but is she at 100%? The practice runs say “maybe,” but her grimace says “painkillers.”
It’s the classic gladiator dilemma: do you bet against the Queen? Usually, no. But this time, she’s not just fighting gravity; she’s fighting a 17-year-old machine from South Korea.
⚡ The Essentials
- The Favorite: Chloe Kim (USA) is aiming for a historic 3-peat, but carries a nagging shoulder injury.
- The Challenger: Gaon Choi (KOR), 17, is undefeated in the 2025/26 World Cup season.
- The Aussie Angle: Veteran Emily Arthur leads a squad of rookies looking to crack the top 10.
The 17-Year-Old Usurper
If you haven't watched Gaon Choi ride this season, you’re missing the revolution. This isn’t just “good for a junior.” This is terrifying efficiency. She went three-for-three in the World Cups leading up to this—Secret Garden, Copper, Laax. Clean sweep.
Choi isn’t riding with the fearlessness of youth; she’s riding with the precision of a surgeon. Her Switch Backside 900 isn't a hail mary; it's her bread and butter. While the veterans are managing their bodies, Choi is expanding her trick list.
| Stat | Chloe Kim (The Queen) | Gaon Choi (The Challenger) |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 25 | 17 |
| 2025/26 Form | Limited (Injury) | Undefeated (3 Wins) |
| X Factor | Experience & Amplitude | Technical Consistency |
The Green and Gold Reality Check
Look, as much as we’d love to see an Aussie atop the podium, we’re playing the long game here. Emily Arthur is back for her third Olympics—a massive achievement in itself. She’s the steady hand guiding the ship. But keep an eye on the fresh faces: Amelie Haskell and Misaki Vaughan.
They aren't here to topple Kim or Choi just yet. They’re here to soak up the pressure cooker environment. If Emily cracks the top 8, that’s a win. If one of the rookies makes the finals? That’s a party back in Jindabyne.
The Dark Horse Division
Don't sleep on the Japanese squad. Mitsuki Ono has arguably the best style in the field. She doesn't just spin; she floats. In a judging criteria that is slowly shifting back towards execution and flow (thank god), Ono could spoil the Kim/Choi duel.
And then there’s Bea Kim. No relation to Chloe, but spiritually her successor. She’s coming back from her own injuries, but her third place at Copper showed she’s not just a participant. She’s hungry.
"Everyone is watching the amplitude, but the judges are looking at the landings. The pipe in Livigno is unforgiving. If you land flat, you're done." — Confidential Source, US Coaching Staff
So, what’s the verdict? My money is on the most dramatic final we’ve seen since Torino. The Queen is wounded, the Challenger is hungry, and the pipe is icy. Buckle up.
