The snowboarding world is captivated as the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics heat up. Chloe Kim of the United States and Scotty James of Australia have demonstrated dominant performances in the halfpipe qualifying rounds at Livigno Snow Park, Italy.
Chloe Kim’s Pursuit of Historic Third Gold
Chloe Kim topped the women’s qualifying round with a score of 90.25, solidifying her position as a strong contender for the final. Despite recent concerns regarding a shoulder injury, Kim showcased her skill and experience.
A victory in Thursday night’s final would make Kim the first woman in Olympic history to win three consecutive gold medals in the halfpipe event (2018, 2022, 2026).
Scotty James Leads, Challenging Japanese Dominance
In the men’s competition, Scotty James delivered a spectacular qualifying run, scoring 94.00. This performance challenged the strong Japanese team, who sent four riders to the final. Yuto Totsuka secured second place with 91.25 points, followed by Ryusei Yamada with 90.25 points.
Top 5 Qualifiers – Men’s Halfpipe
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scotty James | Australia | 94.00 |
| 2 | Yuto Totsuka | Japan | 91.25 |
| 3 | Ryusei Yamada | Japan | 90.25 |
| 4 | Alessandro Barbieri | United States | 88.50 |
| 5 | Ruka Hirano | Japan | 87.50 |
Today’s Medal Events
In addition to the women’s halfpipe final, the Snowboard Cross (SBX) Men’s final will also take place. Veteran Nick Baumgartner (44) will compete, aiming to secure another medal for the United States on the challenging Livigno course, where temperatures are reaching minus 7 degrees Celsius.
All snowboarding events from the 2026 Olympics are available through official Olympic streaming services and regional broadcasters.
