Snowboarder Chloe Kim has expressed that she is “good to go” for the Milan Cortina Olympics, even after sustaining a labrum tear in her shoulder during a training session last week in Switzerland.
Now, she faces a race against time to prepare for a competition that begins in less than a month.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist in the halfpipe shared an update on Instagram on Tuesday, revealing that she was not shocked to discover she had torn her labrum — the tissue lining the shoulder socket. She did not specify which shoulder was injured during her fall while practicing for the upcoming Laax Open.
“There are two ways to do it, and the method I used is less serious than the other, so I’m really pleased about that,” she commented. “Of course, I’m incredibly disappointed that I can’t snowboard until right before the Olympics, which will be challenging. I haven’t had nearly as many practice runs as I would have preferred, but that’s alright.”
The women’s Olympic halfpipe event is set to begin on February 11.
Strong Olympic Contender
At 25 years old, Kim, who has already secured her spot on the U.S. team, would be a leading contender for victory in Italy if she is fully fit. She announced that she will not participate in this weekend’s Laax competition. She did not mention the Winter X Games in Aspen later this month, which is the final major event before the Olympics.
This season, Kim has only competed once — last month at Copper Mountain — where she injured her shoulder while warming up for the finals.
Recently, she shared footage of her fall in Switzerland, where she slid across the halfpipe after misjudging the landing of a jump. At that moment, she mentioned that she dislocated her shoulder but was not in significant pain. An MRI conducted last Friday confirmed the labrum tear.
In her video, Kim mentioned that she will need to wear an “extremely stylish shoulder brace” that is quite uncomfortable.
“I’ve gone through various emotional phases, but to be honest, I’m really looking forward to this week,” she stated.
The video concluded with her meeting her boyfriend, Myles Garrett, a defensive end for the Cleveland Browns, at a train station.
“I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to do this even though the lows can be pretty tough,” Kim wrote in the post accompanying her video. “Looking forward to a week of adventure!”
