From NY Post: While less viral than Team USA’s Evan Bates and Madison Chock controversial second-place finish Wednesday, Chloe Kim’s silver medal in the women’s halfpipe is now being called into question.
After her first run, the reigning two-time Olympic gold medalist tallied an 88.0, which gave her the lead until 17-year-old Choi Ga-on notched a 90.25 on her third and final run.
Only the best of a snowboarder’s three runs counts toward the standings and Kim only had one run remaining after Ga-on’s leading mark.
However, her three-peat dream was dashed after Kim wiped out on both her final runs.
Some believed the 25-year-old Kim deserved first place after she landed the hardest trick — a double-cork 1080. Ga-on did not achieve this.
Critics also point to NBC commentators, who sounded surprised by Kim’s score.
“Did the judges give her a light score after the first run thinking that she would land something bigger later on?” the Post questioned.
NBC commentator Todd Richards wrote on Instagram, “The fact that you are flipping twice upside down while spinning a 1080, the consequences of getting that wrong are a lot higher than doing a switch-backside 900.
“So, Chloe’s 88, in my personal opinion, if she had dropped that on her second or third go, she would’ve been in the lead.”
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