• Choi Ga-on of South Korea wins gold in women's halfpipe, defeating Chloe Kim.
• Choi scores 90.25 in dramatic comeback after a serious crash.
• Chloe Kim, competing injured, settles for silver after falling in her final run.
• Mitsuki Ono of Japan takes bronze in the event held in Livigno, Italy.
• Choi’s victory marks a significant moment as she dethrones the two-time defending champion.

In a stunning turn of events at the Winter Olympics, Choi Ga-on of South Korea clinched gold in the women's snowboard halfpipe, overcoming a significant crash to defeat the two-time defending champion Chloe Kim from the United States, who took home the silver. The competition took place in Livigno, Italy, where Choi scored an impressive 90.25 during her final run, surpassing Kim’s highest score of 88. This marks Choi's Olympic debut and highlights her as the first non-American woman to win in this event since 2010, according to Reuters, CBS News, and South China Morning Post.

Choi’s journey to gold was fraught with challenges, beginning with a frightening crash during her first run, where she flipped upside down and remained down for several minutes while medical staff attended to her. After this incident, she managed to recover and perform a strong second run before achieving her winning score in the third run, displaying remarkable resilience. Choi later reflected, "It’s the kind of story you see only in dreams, so I’m incredibly happy it happened today," emphasizing her emotional path to victory, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

Chloe Kim, a well-regarded snowboarder, was vying to become the first Olympic athlete to win three consecutive gold medals in her sport. Despite her efforts, Kim fell during her final attempt, securing her a silver medal instead. She expressed pride in her performance under difficult conditions, stating, "I’m just proud of myself for landing a run and walking away with a medal," particularly as she was competing with a shoulder brace due to a recent injury. Kim’s reflection showcased her sportsmanship as she honored Choi’s achievement, saying, "There’s no one else I would have rather stood next to on the podium than her," according to CBS News and South China Morning Post.