ST. MORITZ, Switzerland — During the world championships on Saturday, snowboarders Chloe Kim from the United States and Scotty James from Australia emerged victorious, each clinching gold medals in the halfpipe event.
In the women’s competition, Kim dazzled the audience with an outstanding score of 93.50 on her first run, marking her triumphant return to the world stage with a third world title, following her previous wins in 2019 and 2021. Kim had not participated in the most recent edition of the event.
Rising star Sara Shimizu, a 15-year-old competitor from Japan, showcased her talents by earning the silver medal with an impressive score of 90.75, while her fellow countrywoman, Mitsuki Ono, secured the bronze medal, scoring 88.50.
In the men’s final, Scotty James reclaimed his dominance by scoring 95.00 on his second run, awarding him his fourth world title overall. The podium was rounded out by Japanese snowboarders, with Ruka Hirano taking silver and Yuto Totsuka claiming bronze.
James had already achieved back-to-back world titles in 2015, 2017, and 2019 but finished fifth in the previous championship. His latest victory is especially significant. “I wanted to come back and finish it on top. To have won four world titles, I’m pinching myself,” James expressed with excitement.