Chloe Kim
A snowboarding prodigy who redefined her sport with gravity-defying amplitude and youthful joy, becoming an Olympic champion at seventeen.
Born 2000 (age 26)·American snowboarder·Birthday: April 23·Generation Z
Biography
Chloe Kim exploded onto the snowboarding scene not just as a competitor, but as a cultural phenomenon. Born in Long Beach, California to Korean immigrant parents, her talent was undeniable from childhood, forcing the sport's governing bodies to change age rules so she could compete internationally. Her 2018 PyeongChang gold medal run was a masterclass in pressure performance, highlighted by a near-perfect score that included back-to-back 1080 spins. Beyond the medals, Kim's impact lies in her relatable persona—tweeting about churros mid-competition—and her role in inspiring a new, diverse generation of action sports athletes. After a mental health break, her return to win gold again in Beijing 2022 cemented her status as one of the most dominant halfpipe riders in history.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Chloe was born in 2000, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chloe Was Born
The biggest hits of 2000
#1 Movie
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Best Picture
Gladiator
#1 TV Show
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Chloe's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2000Born
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2005Started school
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2013Became a teenager
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2016Could drive
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2018Could vote
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2021Turned 21
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 26 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the youngest woman to win an Olympic snowboarding gold medal at the 2018 Winter Games at age 17.
- Successfully defended her Olympic title, winning gold again in the halfpipe at the 2022 Beijing Games.
- Landed the first women's cab 1260 (three-and-a-half spins) in competition at the 2022 Winter X Games.
- Won the ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete in 2019 and 2023.
Did You Know?
She taught herself to snowboard at age four on a family trip to Mountain High, California.
She is fluent in Korean and has served as an NBC correspondent during the Olympics.
Kim has a signature ice cream flavor, 'Chloe Kim's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough,' with Van Leeuwen.
She was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated's 'Fashionable 50' issue in 2018.
“I just wanted to show the girls that if I can do it, they can do it, and they can do it better.”
