U.S. Skier Lindsey Vonn Reacts to Chloe Kim Development at Winter Olympics

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Feb 12, 2026 8:52 PM ET

A lot was riding on U.S. stars Lindsey Vonn and Chloe Kim in terms of the nation’s medal hopes for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

Vonn’s first run resulted in disaster as the skiing legend crashed out of the downhill final. Vonn fractured her left leg, which required multiple surgeries. The 41-year-old’s fifth Olympic appearance came to a heartbreaking end.

Kim, on the other hand, was in action on Thursday at the snowboarding halfpipe final. She entered the competition in first place after her strong performance in the qualifying round on Wednesday. Kim, however, came up short and settled for second place.

Chloe Kim of the United States reacts after her run during women's snowboard halfpipe qualification during the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

It was South Korean teenager Choi Gaon who ruled the day at the halfpipe final. The 17-year-old won a gold medal in her first Olympics after an awe-inspiring final run. Gaon scored a 90.25 in her third run to overtake Kim in the final round.

Despite her second-place finish, Kim still made Olympic history on Thursday. She entered the competition as the back-to-back champion, having won gold at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and again at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Kim became the first female athlete in history to medal in three straight Olympics in the halfpipe.

Vonn reacted to the news by sending Kim a congratulatory message. The snowboarding icon shared an Instagram story post dedicated to Kim.

"You're such a boss @chloekim!!! ❤️” Vonn wrote.

Vonn and Kim are two of the greatest Winter Olympians in history, and it’s great to see the two legends supporting each other.

Thursday’s halfpipe final was Kim’s final event in this year’s Winter Games. Both Kim and Vonn are now officially done with the 2026 Olympics. Kim may have fallen short on a third gold medal, but her second-place finish is an extremely impressive feat nonetheless.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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