Chloe Kim, the snowboarding phenom, is on the brink of making history as the first woman to snag three consecutive Olympic halfpipe golds at Milano Cortina 2026. But here’s the twist: her secret weapon isn’t just her unmatched skills on the slopes—it’s her Nintendo Switch 2. Yes, you read that right. Kim credits gaming, especially with her boyfriend, as a way to reconnect with her younger, carefree self amidst the pressure of elite competition. “He’s so good,” she gushes, highlighting how these moments of play bring her joy and balance. And this is the part most people miss: her love for gaming isn’t new. It started with her older sisters’ consoles and classics like Pokémon, Mario Kart, and Super Smash Bros. “Snowboarding came first,” she admits, “but video games were a close second.” As she gears up for Italy, Kim anticipates not just the Olympic heat but also “pretty heated gameplay” with her family. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is gaming a distraction for elite athletes, or a vital tool for mental resilience? Kim’s story suggests the latter, but we want to hear from you—does her approach challenge how we view athletes’ downtime? Let us know in the comments!
