Chloe Kim is an American snowboarder who has become one of the most recognisable athletes in women’s snowboarding. Best known for her performances in the halfpipe, Kim has won Olympic gold, X Games titles and world championships during a career that began when she was still a child.
Chloe Kim was born on 23 April 2000 in Long Beach, California. Her parents are Korean immigrants, and Kim grew up in Southern California. She first tried snowboarding when she was just four years old and quickly developed a passion for the sport.
By the age of six, Kim was already competing. Her family made considerable sacrifices to support her training, with her father playing an especially important role in travelling with her to competitions and helping develop her career.
Kim quickly became one of the strongest young snowboarders in the world. She joined the United States Snowboarding Team in 2013 and began competing at major international events while still a teenager.
Her breakthrough on the biggest stage came at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. At only 17 years old, Kim won gold in the women’s halfpipe, becoming the youngest woman to win an Olympic snowboarding gold medal.
Kim returned to the Winter Olympics four years later in Beijing. She successfully defended her title, winning another gold medal in the women’s halfpipe.
Her two Olympic victories placed her among the most successful female halfpipe snowboarders in history. She has also won numerous X Games medals and world-level titles.
Kim has balanced elite sport with education and other interests. She attended Princeton University and has also become a major figure in fashion, advertising and popular culture.
Her career has helped bring greater attention to women’s snowboarding, while her technical ability has contributed to the continuing progression of the halfpipe discipline.
