Last night we got to see Chloe Kim win the gold medal in the women’s snowboard halfpipe competition at the PyeongChang games. In the crowd was her family. Her dad, Jong Jin Kim held up a homemade sign that said “Go Chloe.”
Chloe Kim’s family….
Not only did the country fall in love with Chloe, but we love the support that her dad showcased last night. As we learn more about Chloe and her family we get to see the American Dream theme from the Kim family. Jong Jin even chanted the words, “American Dream” while he was celebrating his daughter’s gold medal run. Jong Jin Kim moved to the United States from South Korea in 1982. He wanted to do all that he could for his family.
Chloe told reporters, “My dad has definitely sacrificed a lot for me, and I don’t know if I could do it, if I was in his shoes. Leaving your life behind and chasing your dream because your kid is passionate about this sport. I think today I did it for my family, and I am so grateful to them.”
Her dad’s sacrifice….
Jong Jin gave Chloe a snowboard when she was four years old. While seeing her passion for the sport he decided to leave his job as an engineer to help his daughter follow her dreams. Chloe’s parents would take her to practice that had them go on a six hour car ride.
In the beginning Jong Jin would push his daughter when she needed encouragement. Kim told USA Today that, “He actually dragged me to the mountain when I was 4 to bribe my mom to come snowboard with him, so it really wasn’t voluntary on my part. But I’m actually really glad he did that. And I’m really glad he just kept bringing me to the mountain.”
Kim told NBC Sports that her dad texted her the following message, “Today is the day imugi [a snake-like creature of lore] turns to dragon,” Chloe was born in the Korean year of the dragon.
Kim has reached the top of her own mountain by winning a gold medal, but she knows that her dad was one of the reasons she was able to win a gold medal.
Congrats Chloe from all of us here at Life of Dad.
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