Chloe Kim Won Gold In the Halfpipe at the 2022 Olympics

Kim is the first woman to win back-to-back gold medals in the event.

The record books for the Olympics are once again updated with Chloe Kim’s name. The snowboarder clinched her second gold medal in the halfpipe today, making her the first-ever snowboarder to win the event twice. Despite experiencing a challenging start this morning, Kim managed to overcome her doubts and fears. Speaking to NBC News, she confessed having “one of the worst practices” that put her in a mentally taxing place. However, when it was her turn, she reminded herself it was a new run that needed to be landed perfectly. She is thrilled that she managed to accomplish that. She started her victorious run with a method air trick which involves grabbing the heel edge of the board, followed by a frontside 1080, a complex trick involving three full rotations. She then pulled off a cab 900, featuring two and a half rotations, a switch backside 540 (one and a half rotations) and ended with a cab 1080 (three full rotations), fetching her a score of 94 according to NBC News. Feeling more prepared this time, the sense of accomplishment opened up a range of emotions in Kim. She is excited to meet her family, boyfriend and dog who have all been her pillars of support. This isn't the first time that Kim has rewritten history at the Olympics though. She bagged her first gold medal in the halfpipe at the tender age of 17, becoming the youngest woman to achieve this feat. However, after such a huge win, the pressure of living up to expectations grew on Kim, affecting her mental health. Expressing her concerns, she told Shape, "I felt pressured to be perfect all the time, which drained me. I was angry because I was always worried about people's opinions about me." That's when she decided to prioritize self-care and learned not to force herself into doing something she doesn’t want to. This realization had a huge impact on her, making her feel more in control of her life. Taking therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic was a decision that worked wonders for Kim. She feels proud of other female athletes like Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka who also prioritized their mental health. She hopes that people understand the pressure that athletes and Olympians face and how crucial it is to take a step back, validate one's emotions and respect oneself. Clearly, focusing on herself has not hindered Kim’s athletic achievements.