The chance for a U.S. podium sweep in women's snowboard halfpipe is still alive.
It was a close call though, as Kelly Clark and Arielle Gold sat in the final two bubble spots as the contest neared its conclusion. But no one was able to bump either of them out of the top 12, and they were able to advance to the final along with teammates Chloe Kim and Maddie Mastro.
Kim, the heavy gold medal favorite in this event, was dominant in the qualifying round. The Southern California native delivered scores of 91.50, and then — after tweeting about ice cream — 95.50 in her qualifying runs, making her the top qualifier by a wide margin.
And she did it without even landing her biggest tricks.
All four Americans are among the best in the world and will be strong medal contenders in the final, which will take place Tuesday Feb. 13 local time (Monday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. EST).
Results
1. Chloe Kim (USA), 95.50
2. Liu Jiayu (CHN), 87.75
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3. Haruna Matsumoto (JPN), 84.25
4. Maddie Mastro (USA), 83.75
5. Queralt Castellet (ESP), 71.50
6. Cai Xuetong (CHN), 69.00
7. Sena Tomita (JPN), 66.75
8. Emily Arthur (AUS), 66.50
9. Sophie Rodriguez (FRA), 65.00
10. Mirabelle Thovex (FRA), 64.25
11. Kelly Clark (USA), 63.25
12. Arielle Gold (USA), 62.75
