By EDDIE PELLS, Associated Press National Writer LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Chloe Kim got the drama over early in Olympic halfpipe qualifying Wednesday, nailing her first run on the way to a top finish and a spot in the final where she’ll go for her third straight title. United States’ Chloe Kim co mpetes during the women’s snowboarding halfpipe qualifications at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) United States’ Chloe Kim reacts to her score during the women’s snowboarding halfpipe qualifications at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) United States’ Chloe Kim celebrates during the women’s snowboarding halfpipe qualifications at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Show Caption1 of 3United States’ Chloe Kim competes during the women’s snowboarding halfpipe qualifications at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Expand Kim showed no signs of rust in her first contest since injuring her shoulder four weeks ago — a setback that jeopardized her status as the favorite coming into the Milan Cortina Games. In fact, this looked like most halfpipe contests involving Kim over the years: She jumped higher and did tougher tricks than pretty much everyone, and her execution was close to flawless. Kim’s score of 90.25 in her first run was 2.5 better than Japan’s Sara Shimizu and 4.25 better than Kim’s American teammate, Maddie Mastro. The contest was halted for about 10 minutes when China’s Liu Jiayu took a nasty fall toward the bottom of the halfpipe. Liu was taken off on a stretcher and the Chinese team didn’t offer immediate word of her condition. ...read more read less