As the 2026 Winter Olympics captivate global audiences, Arthrex is once again on the world stage—this time supporting NBC’s coverage of Team USA snowboarder Chloe Kim’s high‑profile return to competition following a recent shoulder injury.
On Wednesday, February 11, NBC aired an anatomical animation created by the Arthrex 3D Medical Visualization team during the women’s halfpipe qualifying event. The animation illustrated Kim’s left shoulder labrum, helping viewers better understand the injury she suffered just four weeks earlier during a training fall in Switzerland.
Kim, a two‑time Olympic gold medalist, returned to the halfpipe wearing a stabilizing shoulder brace. Despite the injury, she delivered a commanding 90.25 score on her first qualifying run—earning the top spot heading into Thursday’s final and reinforcing her bid to become the first snowboarder in history, in any discipline, to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals.
Speaking to reporters after the event, Kim said her shoulder has been “really well behaved” and that “pain hasn’t been a factor,” noting she has been working tirelessly to strengthen it. Her precision and amplitude during qualifying drew widespread praise across Olympic broadcasts and media recaps.
For Arthrex, the broadcast marks another milestone in a long‑standing collaboration with NBC Sports to bring clear, accessible medical education to millions of viewers.
The partnership builds on several years of shared storytelling between Arthrex and NBC, including recent features explaining injuries sustained by Olympic shot putter Ryan Crouser and gymnast Brody Malone during the Paris 2024 Games.
“I’m just happy to be here,” Kim told NBC. “For a little bit, it wasn’t looking too certain. I’m stoked that I was able to make it out and make it through qualifiers.”
As millions of fans watch Chloe Kim chase Olympic history, Arthrex is honored to play a role in enhancing global understanding of sports injuries—one story at a time.