What's Happening?
Bea Kim, a 19-year-old Olympic snowboarder, shares insights into her training regimen and recovery strategies as she prepares for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. Kim emphasizes the importance of leg strength, focusing on exercises like squats and Bulgarian split squats to enhance performance in the halfpipe event. She also highlights the significance of upper body training, particularly after undergoing shoulder surgery. Kim's approach to recovery includes physical therapy, massage, and the use of compression boots. Her training is complemented by a focus on mental preparation, including carrying a keychain from a friend as a competition superstition.
Why It's Important?
Kim's training and recovery strategies reflect broader trends in sports science, where
athletes increasingly prioritize holistic approaches to performance and injury prevention. Her emphasis on both physical and mental preparation underscores the evolving understanding of what it takes to succeed at the highest levels of competition. As athletes push the boundaries of their sports, insights from their training regimens can inform best practices for both professional and amateur athletes, contributing to advancements in sports medicine and performance optimization.
