Chloe Kim's Father Praises Choi Ga-on's Determination, Wishes Continued Health

"It's not accurate to say my daughter or I provided help. This is entirely Ga-on's and her parents' achievement. I only hope she stays healthy and maintains her brilliant skills for a long time."

Kim Jong-jin, 69, father of snowboard halfpipe legend Chloe Kim, 26, said this in a phone interview with Seoul Economic Daily on the 22nd. "My daughter has watched how hard Ga-on worked since childhood and how she endured injuries big and small, which is why she celebrated Ga-on's gold medal as if it were her own," he said, adding "I felt the same way on site. Ga-on is truly a remarkably determined athlete."

Chloe Kim, gold medalist at the 2018 PyeongChang and 2022 Beijing Games, settled for silver at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which concluded on the 23rd (Korea time), falling short of an unprecedented three-peat after finishing behind Choi Ga-on, 18. Despite the disappointment, Chloe Kim made headlines at the press conference by saying, "No one deserves this gold medal more than Ga-on." Sports fans worldwide were moved by her gracious conduct—pulling down her neck warmer so Choi's face would show better in award ceremony photos, understanding her injury, and even helping support her.

Choi Ga-on had previously described their special bond: "She's my role model and idol. When I got hurt during the first run, she comforted me and got teary-eyed. Chloe's father also helped by recommending coaches."

Regarding this, Kim said: "There's a snowboard team at Mammoth Mountain in the U.S. I can't guarantee athletic results, but I told Ga-on's father that training alongside American athletes would at least teach her English she'd carry for life. That's all I did. This gold medal is 100% the product of Ga-on's talent, mental strength, and her parents' dedication."

Two years ago, Choi Ga-on suffered a serious back injury that threatened her career. Chloe Kim and her father were there at the time. "She worked hard and came back from such a major injury," Kim said. "Watching that painful process is why this gold medal was especially moving for our family."

Throughout the call, Kim expressed no regret about the silver medal. "I watched my daughter injure her shoulder right before the Olympics. I honestly thought she couldn't compete, but she pushed through and competed as an Olympian. That alone is something to be grateful for," he said.

Kim's story of becoming his daughter's manager to nurture her talent while tutoring her to gain admission to Princeton University is well known. "I don't think there's much meaning in talking about medals. Parents who dedicate themselves to their children's endeavors are already champions, regardless of results," he said, offering encouragement to parents of athletes everywhere.