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Update: It turns out Kim’s first run was enough to secure another gold medal for the American phenom. Spain’s Queralt Castellet did get a 90.25 on her second run to create some tension in the final but was unable to top that score on her final attempt. China’s Cai Xuetong was able to put together a great final run but did not get into medal position.
It only took one run for Chloe Kim to secure her place as one of the dominant snowboarders at the 2022 Winter Olympics. The American phenom put down a 94.00 in her opening run in the women’s halfpipe final, eight points clear of second place.
CHLOE KIM STOMPS IT IN RUN 1.@ChloeKim's 94.00 puts her in the top spot in the Snowboard Halfpipe Final! #WinterOlympics
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 10, 2022
: @nbc & @peacockTV
Stream: https://t.co/HTEl6kZ7K4 pic.twitter.com/EP7RnV2qxf
Scoring high is not new for Kim, who posted a 93.75 in her opening run at the 2018 Games before following it up with a 98.25. She was ahead of the silver medalist at those Games, Liu Jiayu, by nearly double digits.
We’ll see if that first run is enough for Kim to secure another gold medal. She may end up taking a victory run anyway, which might be an even bigger reward for snowboarding fans given the tricks she can try with no consequences.