Chloe Kim’s first run in the women’s snowboard halfpipe competition on Thursday was a safety run — one she knew she could land. Still, it landed Kim, 21, the highest score of the day and her second straight Olympic gold medal.
That’s because a safe run for Kim still put her well ahead of her competitors’ best efforts.
Kim began her run with a trick called a straight method air, soaring 12 feet, 10 inches above the edge of the halfpipe. It was one of the highest starts of the day.
Rick Bower, Kim’s coach, said she had had a rough practice Thursday morning ahead of the final event.