By Tyler Bui
The world knows Chloe Kim as a snowboarder, best known for her epic performances at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang and the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. She was crowned the youngest Olympic halfpipe gold medalist at just 17 years old and came back four years later to defend the gold medal.
But her passions extend beyond the slopes. In 2019, Kim broke her right ankle, forcing her to take nearly two years off from competition. During her recovery, she took advantage of her free time and embraced some other interests—including horses.
According to The New York Times, Kim began riding horses as a young child. Today, she enjoys spending time at the stables and getting in the saddle whenever she can. During her interview with The New York Times, Kim took a trip to a stable in Palos Verdes Estates, where she rode a chestnut horse named Levi.
“I’d like to purchase a ranch—have chickens, little pigs…I love pigs. Oh, and I love donkeys. Maybe some exotic animals too. Like Parrots,” Kim told the outlet.
A Korean-American and South California native, Kim picked up snowboarding at the age of four and by age six was already competing. She then trained in Switzerland for the next two years before returning to California, where she resides today. Kim rose to fame at age 14 during the 2015 X Games, becoming the youngest athlete to win a gold medal there, before repeating the honor at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
In addition to horseback riding during her time away from snowboarding, Kim also enrolled at Princeton University, and launched a media and commerce company called Togethxr.
Kim returned to the halfpipe in January 2021, winning the Laax Open in Switzerland, and is competing at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
*This story was originally published in the February 2022 issue of The Plaid Horse. Click here to read it now and subscribe for issues delivered straight to your door!
