Kim rides big 1st run to defense of Olympic halfpipe title

ZHANGJIAKOU, China (AP) — No way was snowboarder Chloe Kim taking an easy ride down the halfpipe for her victory lap on her third and final run.

Not with the perfect stage — and the pressure off — to see if she could land one of her toughest tricks, a cab 1260 (3 1/2 spins).

And while the American standout fell, she quickly got back up and glided to the bottom of the halfpipe Thursday with a new title: back-to-back Olympic champion.

“I was curious to see what would happen. Definitely didn’t go my way,” the 21-year-old from California said of her toughest trick. “I did it once in practice and it went well. So, different. We’ll try it another day.”

On this day in the mountains above Beijing, the only real drama was for second place, with 32-year-old Queralt Castellet of Spain taking silver in her fifth Olympic appearance. Sena Tomita of Japan held off Cai Xuetong of China for bronze.

No one was matching Kim's height or demanding array of tricks. Not after an opening performance that featured a variety of different spins and rotations, including a front and backside 1080 (three spins each). That flawless run appeared to surprise even her as she covered her mouth in excitement. She later told a coach it was the best one she’s done.

Kim joins fellow American Shaun White as the only snowboarders to defend their Olympic titles in the halfpipe. White accomplished the feat in 2006 and ’10. As the defending champion from the Pyeongchang Games, White can do it again on Friday.

Watching the contest Thursday was IOC President Thomas Bach and Chinese freestyle skier Eileen Gu, who recently won the Olympic big air competition. They were treated to quite a performance from Kim, who won at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games as a 17-year old. Gu