US Olympic gold medal snowboarder Chloe Kim's Milan-Cortina hopes in doubt after shocking injury

How the trampoline is a crucial training tool for winter athletes in snowboard and skiing events

U.S. Winter Olympics star snowboarder Chloe Kim's hopes for a gold medal three-peat are in serious doubt after she suffered a surprising shoulder injury. 

Kim said Thursday that she took "the silliest fall" in training, which caused her to dislocate her shoulder, threatening her chance to win a third straight gold medal at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in February. 

Kim posted video of the accident in Laax, Switzerland, earlier this week as she practiced for a key Olympic tune-up there next weekend. The footage shows Kim tumbling hard onto the snow and sliding across the halfpipe. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Kim took home the gold medal in the women's halfpipe event at the 2018 Olympic Games in South Korea. (Reuters)

Kim did not specify which shoulder she hurt but said she was "trying to stay optimistic" despite having little clarity about her recovery timeline. The 25-year-old said she has an MRI scheduled for Friday that will reveal the extent of the damage.

"The positive thing is, I have range, I’m not in that much pain, I just don’t want it to keep popping out, which has happened," she said. "I’m just trying to stay really optimistic. I feel really good about where my snowboarding is at right now, so I know the minute I get cleared and I’m good to go, I should be fine."

Kim’s absence would deprive the Winter Games of one of its biggest names and one of its best storylines.

She is trying to become the first action-sports athlete to win three straight gold medals. Shaun White took three halfpipe golds, but they were spread out over five games.

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST CHLOE KIM GUSHES OVER