2026 Winter Olympics Women’s Snowboarding Halfpipe: Live Updates, Medal Favorites & How to Watch
Introduction: History Awaits in Livigno
The women’s snowboarding halfpipe at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics is unfolding right now in the Italian Alps—and it is already delivering the drama, spills, and historic stakes that define the Winter Games. With qualifying complete and the medal final set for Thursday, February 12, a global audience is watching to see if American icon Chloe Kim can achieve what no snowboarder—male or female—has ever done: win three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the same event.
This is your complete, up-to-the-minute guide to the 2026 women’s halfpipe competition, featuring exclusive qualification results, the rising teenage phenom threatening the throne, full broadcast schedules, and everything you need to know before Thursday’s final.
Breaking News: Qualification Results (February 11, 2026)
The women’s halfpipe qualification round concluded on Wednesday, February 11, at the sun-drenched Livigno Snow Park, approximately 140 kilometers north of Milan . Twenty-four athletes competed for just twelve spots in the final. Here is how the top contenders fared:
| Athlete | Nation | Best Score | Qualification Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chloe Kim | USA | 90.25 (Run 1) | ✅ Qualified (1st) |
| Sara Shimizu | Japan | 87.50 | ✅ Qualified (2nd) |
| Choi Gaon | South Korea | 82.25 | ✅ Qualified (6th) |
| Elizabeth Hosking | Canada | Not specified | ✅ Qualified (8th) |
| Maddie Mastro | USA | Not specified | ✅ Qualified (3rd) |
| Bea Kim | USA | Not specified | ✅ Qualified (10th) |
| Queralt Castellet Ibanez | Spain | Not specified | ✅ Qualified |
| Sena Tomita | Japan | Not specified | ✅ Qualified |
| Liu Jiayu | China | Did not finish (Run 2 crash) | ❌ Did not qualify |
Key Takeaway: Chloe Kim dominated despite a torn labrum in her left shoulder, posting a 90.25 on her first run—more than enough to lead the field. She sat out her second run after securing advancement .
Injury Update: Five-time Olympian Liu Jiayu of China crashed hard on her second run and was carried off the course on a stretcher. Her condition is currently being evaluated .
The Main Event: Final Schedule & How to Watch
All eyes now turn to Thursday, February 12, when the medals will be decided. Unlike qualification (where only the best of two runs counts), finalists will have three runs, with the highest single score determining the champion .
📺 Broadcast Information (All Times Eastern)
| Event | Date | Time (ET) | TV/Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Halfpipe Final | Thursday, Feb 12 | 1:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Primetime Re-Air | Thursday, Feb 12 | 9:30 p.m. | NBC |
Streaming: All events are available live on Peacock. Qualifying aired on USA Network; finals are exclusive to NBC and Peacock .
Time Zone Note: If you are in Central Time, finals begin at 12:30 p.m. CT .
The Storyline That Defines These Games: Kim vs. Choi
🏅 Chloe Kim: The Three-Peat Quest
At 25, Chloe Kim is no longer the teenage prodigy who took Pyeongchang by storm in 2018. She is now the undisputed greatest female halfpipe snowboarder in history, and she enters Thursday’s final with an opportunity to surpass even Shaun White’s legacy.
By the Numbers:
2018 Pyeongchang: Gold (youngest woman to win snowboarding gold at 17)
2022 Beijing: Gold
2026 Milano Cortina: Poised to become the first snowboarder ever—man or woman—to three-peat in an Olympic event .
Injury Status: Kim suffered a torn labrum in her left shoulder during a training run in Switzerland in January. She was off snow for two weeks but returned wearing a supportive brace. Her coach, Rick Bower, told the Associated Press: “Clearly, it’s not an ideal situation, but all things considered, the work she’s put in over the last 15 years, she’s in a place where she can deal with it.” .
New Trick Alert: Kim has hinted she is saving a brand-new run for the final—a more difficult version of her Beijing-winning routine that incorporates switch riding and spins in both directions. “If I’m able to pull that off, regardless of where I place, I’ll be really content with that,” she said .
⭐ Choi Gaon: The 17-Year-Old Threat
If Chloe Kim is the queen, Choi Gaon of South Korea is the heir apparent—and she may not be willing to wait.
Who is Choi Gaon? At just 17 years old, Choi is the same age Kim was during her breakout 2018 performance. But she has already eclipsed one of Kim’s records: in 2024, at 14 years and 2 months, she became the youngest female athlete to win halfpipe gold at the X Games .
2025-26 Dominance: Choi arrives in Italy having won three consecutive FIS Snowboard World Cup events, including a victory as recently as January 17, 2026 .
History on the Line: No Korean athlete has ever won an Olympic gold medal in snowboarding. Choi is carrying the hopes of her nation—and prediction markets give her a 36% chance of gold, second only to Kim .
Qualification Performance: Choi scored 82.25, finishing sixth. While her second run featured a wobbly landing, her first run showcased the signature switch backside 720 stalefish—a high-difficulty trick she lands with remarkable consistency .
The Full Field: Who Else Can Medal?
While Kim and Choi dominate headlines, the halfpipe final is deep with talent:
🇺🇸 Team USA Depth:
Maddie Mastro: The 2025 Crystal Globe winner. She placed third in qualifying. Lindsey Jacobellis calls her a legitimate podium threat .
Bea Kim: The 19-year-old (no relation to Chloe) qualified 10th. This is her first Olympics; a medal may be four years away, but experience here is invaluable .
🇯🇵 Japanese Contingent:
Sara Shimizu: Qualification runner-up (87.50). Japan boasts four qualified halfpipe athletes, the maximum per nation .
Sena Tomita: The reigning Olympic bronze medalist from Beijing 2022. She qualified easily .
🇨🇦 Canadian Hope:
Elizabeth Hosking: At her third Olympics, the Canadian placed eighth in qualifying and is a steady presence in finals .
🇪🇸 Veteran Presence:
Queralt Castellet Ibanez: The 2022 silver medalist. At 36, this may be her Olympic farewell. She advanced comfortably .
How Halfpipe Judging Works
For readers new to snowboarding, here is how athletes are scored:
The Pipe: A U-shaped structure 22 feet tall. Riders launch from one wall to the other, performing tricks in the air .
Scoring: Six judges. The highest and lowest scores are discarded. Athletes are evaluated on difficulty, amplitude (height), and execution.
Final Format: Three runs. Only the single best run counts—consistency is less important than landing one flawless, high-difficulty run .
2026 Medal Predictions & Odds
According to prediction market Carsi, the women’s halfpipe is essentially a two-woman race:
| Athlete | Probability of Top 3 Finish | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| Chloe Kim (USA) | 55% | Going for history |
| Choi Gaon (KOR) | 36% | Three-peat World Cup winner |
| All Others | <1% each | Long shots |
Note: These are pre-final estimates. Maddie Mastro and Sara Shimizu are viable spoilers .
Why This Event Matters: Beyond the Medals
1. History: No snowboarder has ever won three consecutive Olympic golds in a single event. Chloe Kim can stand alone.
2. Youth Movement: Choi Gaon represents South Korea’s best-ever chance at snowboarding gold. If she wins, she’ll be an instant national hero.
3. Resilience: Kim’s shoulder injury, Liu Jiayu’s terrifying crash, and the sheer physical toll of halfpipe competition remind us that Olympic glory is forged through pain.
4. US-Japan-Korea Rivalry: With four Americans, four Japanese, and one Korean star, this final has geopolitical flavor—but on the snow, respect is universal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is the women’s halfpipe final?
A: Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Q: Did Chloe Kim qualify for the final?
A: Yes. She finished first with a score of 90.25 .
Q: Who is Chloe Kim’s biggest competition?
A: Choi Gaon of South Korea. The 17-year-old has won three straight World Cups .
Q: How can I watch if I don’t have cable?
A: Stream live on Peacock. The final will also re-air in primetime on NBC at 9:30 p.m. ET .
Q: What happened to Liu Jiayu?
A: The Chinese veteran crashed in qualifying and was stretchered off. No official update on her condition has been released .
Q: Is this Chloe Kim’s last Olympics?
A: She has not announced retirement. At 25, she could easily compete in 2030 if she chooses.
Conclusion: Tune In for History
The 2026 Winter Olympics women’s snowboarding halfpipe final is not merely a competition—it is a coronation waiting to happen, or a changing of the guard waiting to be seized.
Will Chloe Kim cement her legacy as the greatest halfpipe snowboarder of all time? Or will 17-year-old Choi Gaon announce herself to the world in the same way Kim did eight years ago?
One thing is certain: when the final runs begin at 1:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, the world will be watching Livigno.
Stay with us for live results, medal updates, and full coverage immediately following the event.
Disclaimer: This article reflects the status of the 2026 Winter Olympics women’s halfpipe competition as of February 11, 2026 (post-qualification, pre-final). Results, broadcast times, and athlete participation are subject to change. For the most current information, refer to official Olympics channels and live broadcasts.
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