Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month - Athletes
Written by Elizabeth A. Hays
Throughout May, the United States celebrates its Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) citizens. The year 2022 is exciting for AAPI Olympic athletes because Beijing, China, will be the first city ever to host both the winter and summer games. Here is a highlight of the most notable AAPI athletes that competed for Team USA in the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Chloe Kim | Olympic Headshots, Snowboarding, Team USA
Chloe Kim is one of the most recognized American athletes to win a gold medal for Team USA at the 2022 Winter Olympics. She grew up in California as a second-generation immigrant from South Korea. Her parents, Jong Jin and Boran Kim, raised Chloe and her sisters, Erica and Tracy, in a multilingual household, making Chloe fluent in English, French, and Korean. She began snowboarding at about four years old. At 22, Kim was the first professional snowboarder to win all four international competitions: the Youth Olympics, Worlds, X Games, and Winter Olympics. She became one of the youngest to win the title in the 2015 Winter X Games at only 14 years old. With her first win, Kim became the youngest woman to win an Olympic gold medal in snowboarding at just 17. She continues to win gold for Team USA, becoming a two-time Olympic gold medalist for her participation in 2018 and 2022 in snowboarding. Kim keeps dominating in the slopestyle, superpipe, and halfpipe. Chloe Kim completed all of her athletic achievements while being accepted to Princeton University for the 2023 school year.
Chloe Kim is one of the most recognized American athletes to win a gold medal for Team USA at the 2022 Winter Olympics. She grew up in California as a second-generation immigrant from South Korea. Her parents, Jong Jin and Boran Kim, raised Chloe and her sisters, Erica and Tracy, in a multilingual household, making Chloe fluent in English, French, and Korean. She began snowboarding at about four years old. At 22, Kim was the first professional snowboarder to win all four international competitions: the Youth Olympics, Worlds, X Games, and Winter Olympics. She became one of the youngest to win the title in the 2015 Winter X Games at only 14 years old. With her first win, Kim became the youngest woman to win an Olympic gold medal in snowboarding at just 17. She continues to win gold for Team USA, becoming a two-time Olympic gold medalist for her participation in 2018 and 2022 in snowboarding. Kim keeps dominating in the slopestyle, superpipe, and halfpipe. Chloe Kim completed all of her athletic achievements while being accepted to Princeton University for the 2023 school year.
Nathan Chen | Olympic Headshots, Figure Skating, Team USA, 2022
Nathan Chen is a 23-year-old Olympic figure skater who won bronze, silver, and gold medals in the 2018 and 2022 Winter Games. Born in Salt Lake City, he is the youngest son of Zhidong Chen and Hetty Wang, a native of Beijing, China. He grew up with four older brothers and sisters: Alice, Janice, Tony, and Colin. After watching his older brothers play hockey while his sisters ice-skated, Chen started ice skating at the age of three. He has competed in regional gymnastics and trained at the Ballet West Academy. Before winning Olympic medals, he was a Four Continents Champion, a Grand Prix Final Champion, and a U.S. National Champion. In the 2018 Winter Olympics, his team took home the bronze medal. In 2022, his team became silver medalists, and he took home the gold medal in the individual event. During a public interview from NBC’s Today Show, Chen’s mother surprised him to celebrate his win. Because of his Chinese heritage, he dedicated it to her sacrifice. Nathan Chen went to Yale University to study statistics and data science while he was getting ready for the Winter Olympics.
Nathan Chen is a 23-year-old Olympic figure skater who won bronze, silver, and gold medals in the 2018 and 2022 Winter Games. Born in Salt Lake City, he is the youngest son of Zhidong Chen and Hetty Wang, a native of Beijing, China. He grew up with four older brothers and sisters: Alice, Janice, Tony, and Colin. After watching his older brothers play hockey while his sisters ice-skated, Chen started ice skating at the age of three. He has competed in regional gymnastics and trained at the Ballet West Academy. Before winning Olympic medals, he was a Four Continents Champion, a Grand Prix Final Champion, and a U.S. National Champion. In the 2018 Winter Olympics, his team took home the bronze medal. In 2022, his team became silver medalists, and he took home the gold medal in the individual event. During a public interview from NBC’s Today Show, Chen’s mother surprised him to celebrate his win. Because of his Chinese heritage, he dedicated it to her sacrifice. Nathan Chen went to Yale University to study statistics and data science while he was getting ready for the Winter Olympics.
Kai Owens | Olympic Headshots, Freestyle Skiing, Team USA, 2022
The 2022 Winter Olympics saw one of its youngest athletes. At only 17 years old, Kai Owens competed in freestyle skiing for Team USA. She was born in China but grew up in Vail, Colorado, where she attended the Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy. Three years before her Olympic debut, Owens won a NorAm moguls competition, making her the youngest American to win the title. In 2021, the skier won the International Ski Federation's rookie of the year award. Although Beijing was her first Olympic experience, she will continue to be a powerful force in international skiing.
The 2022 Winter Olympics saw one of its youngest athletes. At only 17 years old, Kai Owens competed in freestyle skiing for Team USA. She was born in China but grew up in Vail, Colorado, where she attended the Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy. Three years before her Olympic debut, Owens won a NorAm moguls competition, making her the youngest American to win the title. In 2021, the skier won the International Ski Federation's rookie of the year award. Although Beijing was her first Olympic experience, she will continue to be a powerful force in international skiing.
Vincent Zhou | Olympic Headshots, Figure Skating, Team USA, 2022
Vincent Zhou is a 21-year-old figure skater and Olympic champion. He is a California native with one older sister, Vivian. Both his maternal and paternal grandparents currently reside in China, making his origins prominent throughout his life. Zhou competed with Nathan Chen in the 2022 Winter Olympics, helping Team USA take home the silver medal. During those events, he dedicated his free skate to honoring his Chinese heritage through inspiration from “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” However, 2022 was not his first time participating in the games. In 2018, Vincent Zhou broke records and became the first skater to land a quadruple lutz jump in the short individual event.
Vincent Zhou is a 21-year-old figure skater and Olympic champion. He is a California native with one older sister, Vivian. Both his maternal and paternal grandparents currently reside in China, making his origins prominent throughout his life. Zhou competed with Nathan Chen in the 2022 Winter Olympics, helping Team USA take home the silver medal. During those events, he dedicated his free skate to honoring his Chinese heritage through inspiration from “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” However, 2022 was not his first time participating in the games. In 2018, Vincent Zhou broke records and became the first skater to land a quadruple lutz jump in the short individual event.
Cole McDonald | Olympic Headshots, Freestyle Skiing, Team USA, 2022
Like Kai Owens, Cole McDonald was also one of the youngest athletes to compete in the 2022 Winter Olympics. At 18 years old, he represented Team USA in freestyle skiing as the youngest mogul skier in the men’s division. McDonald was the youngest of six children born in Park City, Utah to parents Phon Ly Jr. and Hong McDonald. At one point, his family moved to Singapore for four years before returning to Park City. While growing up, he attended the Winter Sports School, where he showed an intense interest in freestyle mogul skiing. Before competing in his first Olympic competition, Cole McDonald won titles in the 2021 World Cup and the United States National Championship. The skier plans to keep training with Team USA so he can compete in the 2026 Olympics in Cortina, Italy.
Like Kai Owens, Cole McDonald was also one of the youngest athletes to compete in the 2022 Winter Olympics. At 18 years old, he represented Team USA in freestyle skiing as the youngest mogul skier in the men’s division. McDonald was the youngest of six children born in Park City, Utah to parents Phon Ly Jr. and Hong McDonald. At one point, his family moved to Singapore for four years before returning to Park City. While growing up, he attended the Winter Sports School, where he showed an intense interest in freestyle mogul skiing. Before competing in his first Olympic competition, Cole McDonald won titles in the 2021 World Cup and the United States National Championship. The skier plans to keep training with Team USA so he can compete in the 2026 Olympics in Cortina, Italy.
Alysa Liu | Olympic Headshots, Figure Skating, Team USA, 2022
The figure skater, Alysa Liu, is another of the youngest athletes to compete for Team USA in the most recent Winter Olympics. Liu is a California native who grew up with four siblings: Selina, Julia, Joshua, and Justin. She was born to a single father, Arthur Liu, an immigrant from Sichuan, China. She trains at the St. Moritz Figure Skating Club in Colorado Springs. The figure skater received multiple awards before making her first Olympic appearance. Her first United States National victory in 2019 made her the youngest female to win the title. Then, Alysa Liu won the championship again in 2020. She ultimately helped Team USA qualify for the 2022 Olympics after she won the Lombardia and Nebelhorn Trophies in the fall of 2021. Most people remember her as the first female to land a Triple Axle and a quadruple Lutz in the same routine. The Triple Axle is one of the most complicated tricks a skater can accomplish. It is the only jump where the skater begins facing forward and completes three and a half rotations before returning to the ice. A Lutz directly follows the axle in difficulty. The skater uses their toe pick on the back outside edge to start the jump. After a couple of rotations, they end it on the back outside edge of the opposite foot. On April 9, 2022, Alysa Liu announced her retirement from figure skating on her Instagram account.
The figure skater, Alysa Liu, is another of the youngest athletes to compete for Team USA in the most recent Winter Olympics. Liu is a California native who grew up with four siblings: Selina, Julia, Joshua, and Justin. She was born to a single father, Arthur Liu, an immigrant from Sichuan, China. She trains at the St. Moritz Figure Skating Club in Colorado Springs. The figure skater received multiple awards before making her first Olympic appearance. Her first United States National victory in 2019 made her the youngest female to win the title. Then, Alysa Liu won the championship again in 2020. She ultimately helped Team USA qualify for the 2022 Olympics after she won the Lombardia and Nebelhorn Trophies in the fall of 2021. Most people remember her as the first female to land a Triple Axle and a quadruple Lutz in the same routine. The Triple Axle is one of the most complicated tricks a skater can accomplish. It is the only jump where the skater begins facing forward and completes three and a half rotations before returning to the ice. A Lutz directly follows the axle in difficulty. The skater uses their toe pick on the back outside edge to start the jump. After a couple of rotations, they end it on the back outside edge of the opposite foot. On April 9, 2022, Alysa Liu announced her retirement from figure skating on her Instagram account.
Trivia Facts
- Alysa Liu is one of the youngest athletes to compete and retire as an Olympic champion, announcing her exit at only 16 years old.
- Chloe Kim was the first ever to win all four international snowboarding competitions, and she did it all before turning 22!
- Did you know that Beijing, China is the first city ever to host both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games?