Olympic Parents Share In the Glory and the Spotlight
Published 12:02 am Thursday, February 15, 2018
- Boran Yun Kim, the mother of U.S. snowboarder Chloe Kim, cheers on her daughter at Phoenix Park in Pyeongchang, South Korea on Tuesday. (Margaret Cheatham Williams/The New York Times)
No Olympic athlete makes it to the top alone.
It usually requires a substantial support system, and a lot of rides to and from practice.
When the cameras turn to the stands, they often find proud parents who are more nervous — or celebratory — than any of the fans at home. (Who could forget gymnast Aly Raisman’s parents nervously swaying in their seats during the 2016 Rio Olympics?)
Here are a few of the Olympic parents capturing attention during the Pyeongchang Games.
Chloe Kim, snowboarding
The American star-in-the-making, who won the gold medal in the halfpipe, visited her family’s cheering section between runs on Tuesday. Her father, Jong Jin, is a Korean immigrant who gave up his job when she was 10 to help her pursue her Olympic dreams, according to Bleacher Report.
“To see Chloe compete in the Olympics, it’s going to be very exciting and happy,” her mother, Boran Kim, told The New York Times before the event. “I think it will be the best moment of my whole life.”
Mikael Kingsbury, men’s moguls
The 25-year-old Canadian skier won the gold medal on Monday, and his parents, Julie Thibaudeau and Robert Kingsbury, were there to witness it.
The parents jumped over a fence and raced to their son to hug him, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
“We didn’t talk. We hugged forever,” his mother said. “And then I said, ‘I love you.’”
Maame Biney, speed skating
NBC captured footage of Biney’s father, Kweku Biney, reacting to her advancing to the quarterfinals of the 500-meter competition, standing and yelling with his arms in the air.
Maame Biney lived in Ghana until she was 5, when she moved to the United States to live with her father. In December, he cheered her on while she was securing a spot on the Olympic team, holding a sign in the stands reading: “Kick some hiney Biney.”
Hannah and Marissa Brandt, ice hockey
Greg and Robin Brandt have split loyalties: One daughter, Hannah, plays for the U.S. women’s hockey team, while their daughter they adopted when she was about 4 months old, Marissa, plays for the Korean women’s hockey team. The girls were inseparable as children, and when Hannah took up hockey instead of figure skating, Marissa soon followed, the parents told USA Today.
“To have both girls be able to go to the Olympics at the same time, it’s pretty amazing,” Robin said.
Maia and Alex Shibutani, figure skating
The American siblings who helped the United States win a bronze medal in team skating recorded a video to thank their mother, Naomi Shibutani, for her support.
Naomi met her husband, Chris, when they were Harvard musicians, according to ESPN.
“The parents are very much an integral part of what their training is,” said Patti Gottwein, who coached the siblings.
Mirai Nagasu, figure skating
Her parents, Kiyoto and Ikuko Nagasu, were working at their Japanese restaurant in Arcadia, California, when their daughter became the first American woman to land a triple axel during the Olympics. They were too busy to watch her team performance live, so they had to wait until they got home, Ikuko Nagasu told USA Today.
To celebrate their daughter’s accomplishments, they occasionally offer the Mirai Roll, which includes tuna, tuna tatako, avocado, mentaiko, shrimp and tempura. And they will close for the first time in years when she skates in the individual competition.
“The business is important, but it is special to be able to watch Mirai,” Ikuko said.