Chloe Kim has never been afraid to fall down (she at all times gets back up), nor to ask for food in the course of a press conference (she’s regularly hungry, she said…), even less to perform unbelievable tricks, spins, and flips that she alone masters (on the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, no less). Not even gravity can pull her back right down to earth. But back on the bottom, we’re having connection difficulties. Thankfully, the blank Zoom screen is broken by the sound of her vivid and bubbly voice. Let’s talk with Chloe Kim, the prodigy who reached for the celebs.
At 4-years-old, her dad put her on a snowboard, at 6, she competed in her first competition, at 7, she won the Junior National Championships. At 15, Kim participated within the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Lillehammer, Norway, winning two gold medals. In Aspen, Colorado, she became the youngest snowboarder and the youngest half-pipe Olympic snowboard champion on the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in 2018. Today, on the age of twenty-two, she has gathered two Olympic gold medals, two world titles, six gold medals on the X Games, and two World Cup titles. Oh, and he or she’s a newly-minted ambassador for Breitling’s “All-Star Squad.”
Off the charts when it comes to coolness, paired with a sparkling personality, Kim is enthusiastic, engaging, and committed to environmental and social causes. Open-minded and comfortable between two cultures, Korea and America, the Los Angeles-based champion travels quite quite a bit. When she was younger, she lived in Switzerland, where she also mastered French. Along with her blonde locks, the SoCal girl is every bit chatty, (almost) like all other young adult of her age, fueling a love for fashion, watches, makeup, K-Pop, and partying with friends. She binge-watches Netflix. Indeed, she is taking a much-needed and well-deserved season-long break after 15 years of intense world class competitions. As Kim presses pause, she discusses her next challenge, mental health, and luxury watches.
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From Korea to the US, are you able to share a bit about your background?
My background is in all places. I used to be born and raised in California. [Ed. note: Kim’s parents emigrated from Korea and met in Switzerland, when they both worked for travel agencies. They ended up in Southern California, where they raised their three daughters.] I actually lived in Geneva for a pair years. So I began traveling the world at a young age, with the ability to compete. I never thought I’d get thus far though, I’m super completely satisfied about it! I began snowboarding after I was 4. I went with my dad, and just fell in love with it. I used to be in a position to bond with him on the mountains, with the ability to travel together [and] make a whole lot of friends and get well and higher at snowboarding. I can’t consider I’ve been doing it for therefore long—18 years!
At 17, you became the youngest half-pipe Olympic snowboard champion on the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. How did you discover half-pipe?
I actually hated half-pipe after I first discovered it. It was scary, and I used to be not good at it. But it surely was because Mountain High, where I began snowboarding, didn’t really have an enormous 22-foot competitive-style half-pipe. I never really got to experience half-pipe snowboarding until I used to be in Switzerland, actually. Then, my first international competition in a 22-foot half-pipe was in Laax, for the European Open. I won the Junior Jam, after which I used to be like “Oh, that is fun.” Then I kept going and kept training, and now I like it.
What are your next challenges?
I’m taking this next season off; I got back from Beijing this February and I’m pursuing other things straight away. I’m going to hold up the bib for this season—but I’ll still be on the mountain snowboarding, riding powder, having a lot fun with friends. I won’t be competing this next season. I’m excited for this day off because going to the Olympics is sort of exhausting mentally, and I just need to present myself a while before I do it again.
You will have been collaborating with the BetterUp platform, which focuses on mental fitness, specifically “to strengthen your mind, the identical way you do your body.” What prompted that?
What BetterUp is doing is incredible. Mental health is so vital. I don’t really think I gave my mental health the obligatory attention until the last couple of years (TD;LR: she was burnt out before the pandemic). I didn’t realize how many individuals it affected, and I believed it was just me. But when Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, and all these incredible athletes began coming out talking about their mental health, about what their challenges and struggles are, it encouraged me to do the identical. It made me feel like I wasn’t the just one going through this, and that I shouldn’t be ashamed. The minute that happened, I began prioritizing my mental health and I continued to spread this positive message. I also met with Prince Harry [BetterUp’s Chief Impact Officer), which was really cool.
Who emotionally supports you?
My dad. Even at the Olympics, I got so nervous before, I called my dad immediately, like, “Help!” And he said, “You’ve got this, you’re fine, don’t worry!” He was my coach until I was 13; he taught me everything.
You’re part of a new crew, the Breitling “All-Star Squad.” How did this collaboration come about?
I’ve been working with Breitling for a few years now, and in the beginning, they said that they would love to put me in an “all-star squad” with Erling Haaland, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Trevor Lawrence, and then it finally happened! It’s awesome that we get to collaborate with other athletes and become this super squad.
All men! What do you think about the position of women in sports today?
It’s incredible how far we’ve come as women, and how we are finally getting the recognition that we deserve. There have been so many incredibly powerful female athletes who have driven this progressive movement. So, I am really proud to be a part of this change. A lot of great things are coming out of it.
You share the same environmental and social commitments as Breitling. How is its brand-new Super Chronomat Automatic 38 watch sustainable?
I love that watch so much. I have other models, too. This specific model offers a full supply chain traceability, so you know where the precious materials are coming from: the diamonds are lab-grown and the gold is from a small-scale artisanal mine in Colombia, which meets social and environmental standards. That’s one of my favorite things about Breitling—they are as sustainable and incredible as you could hope.
And what are its other aesthetic advantages?
I’m a girl that likes diamonds! I like shiny things, and I can tell you that these watches are very shiny. I love that a lot of them feel very unisex, like I’ll be wearing a watch and my dad’s like, “I want one of those.” And I’m like, “Oh, well it’s mine, so you can’t have it!” [laughs]. I actually have a choice of Breitling watches, and I like wearing a recent one every other day and matching it with my outfit. Since working with Breitling, I’ve been hooked on watches—I can’t get enough!
Who’re a few of your favorite fashion designers?
I like fashion. I grew up in L.A., so I feel like I used to be at all times surrounded by it. Also, traveling to Europe a ton, which is fashion central, I definitely got a whole lot of inspiration and began to like fashion increasingly more. It’s at all times summer here in L.A., so it makes it very easy. Ninety-nine percent of the time I’m actually wearing sweatpants, because [right now] I’d relatively stay at home and watch Netflix [laughs]. Ever since I used to be 13, I actually have been such an enormous fan of fashion. There are such a lot of incredible designers, I actually just went to a Baptiste Cavalli dinner last night, who designed my dress on the Met Gala. So exciting!
Have you ever experimented with shopping within the metaverse? Do you have already got an avatar?
It’s so cool! I’m working with this company straight away who make houses for famous people within the metaverse, so I got one of their athletes’ villages. I’m super enthusiastic about that, I believe it’ll come out next 12 months. Hopefully my house is sort of a Breitling shop where you possibly can buy all of the watches you wish! [Laughs.]
You appeared in Maroon 5 and Cardi B’s “Girls Like You” music video in 2018, and within the film Charlie’s Angels in 2019. Is there a likelihood of a profession change on the horizon?
I’m working on it. We’ll see what happens next! Considered one of my sponsors, Roxy, has actually allowed me to create my very own signature line, so I’ve been privileged enough to design a bit recently. It comes out this November. It’s been so exciting. I actually have a tremendous team helping me doing it, however it’s a whole lot of labor, so I actually have great respect for designers.
What advice would you give to young individuals who would really like to follow your path?
Never surrender and stay positive, which is so corny, however it’s true. That’s the muse of why I’m where I’m at now!
What’s your perception of time?
I’m definitely anyone who likes to be on time or early. I’m an overachiever.
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CHLOE KIM’S BEAUTY TIPS AND TRICKS
Are you able to share a beauty secret for beating the cold?
I would like essentially the most hydrating moisturizer you possibly can possibly find. Right away, I’m actually using Tatcha, which has been considered one of my favorite brands for a very long time. It’s the Dewy Skin Cream. I’m not sponsored by them in any respect, I’m just being real. That’s my lifesaver on the go; my skin doesn’t dry out.
What’s your go-to solution to thank your body after training?
I’m going straight to physical therapy, because more often than not after training there are little injuries that must be treated immediately. I’m going on slightly recovery jog or do a brief workout after which I head to the spa. My favorite thing is getting a massage.
Do you may have a suggestion for coping with stress before an enormous day, just like the Olympics?
It’s really hard to chill out once you’re within the Olympic Village. Everyone’s stressed but attempting to enjoy it. Imagine training for 4 years for one thing that’s going to finish in an hour! The very best solution to chill out is just talking to my family and friends, so I used to be just on FaceTime to everybody. The Olympics is such a cool experience. It’s amazing, and you possibly can’t even consider that you just’re there.
What’s your secret weapon on the slopes?
Music! Once I’m snowboarding, I take heed to rap. If you happen to see me on the mountain and you are trying to check with me, I probably can’t hear you because that’s how loud my volume is—it’s just blasting in my ears.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
