In the highly anticipated women’s halfpipe snowboarding event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, 18-year-old Choi Ka-Young from Sehwa Girls’ High School has emerged as a favorite, surpassing the legendary Chloe Kim, 26, from the U.S. According to betting information site Ozchecker, Choi is currently viewed as the top contender by international sports betting companies, while Kim closely follows her.
On November 11 (Korean time), it was revealed that Choi received the lowest odds in all but one company, UK-based William Hill, which continues to favor Kim as the frontrunner. The betting odds are indicative of a belief among bookmakers that Choi holds a slight edge over Kim based on current momentum. Just a year ago, predictions overwhelmingly pointed towards Kim maintaining her dominance. William Hill, however, has set Kim’s odds at 2.38 while raising Choi’s to 2.88, suggesting that while there is still a competitive balance, Choi’s chances are perceived as increasingly favorable.
Choi Ka-Young’s strong standing is supported by her impressive performance this season, where she has clinched three wins in the International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cup, placing her at the top of the global rankings. Her skill in executing difficult aerial tricks and achieving flawless runs has drawn comparisons to Kim’s peak performance. Most recently, Choi won a World Cup event in Laax, Switzerland, showcasing her dominant form.
Conversely, Chloe Kim suffered a shoulder injury during practice at the same event in January. However, she reassured fans through her social media that her injury isn’t severe and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the Olympics despite having a less than ideal training regimen.
International media has taken a keen interest in this halfpipe event, with Forbes highlighting that a gold medal win for Choi would break Kim’s record as the youngest Olympic champion in snowboarding history.
The highly anticipated women’s halfpipe qualifying rounds are set to kick off on November 11 at 6:30 PM, with the final match scheduled for November 13 at 3:30 AM. As the snowboarding world watches closely, the upcoming competition is sure to be thrilling, filled with potential and excitement for both athletes and fans alike.