Class-act Chloe keeps grounded after hitting the heights

Asking reporters for snacks to satiate her hunger after winning the halfpipe title on Thursday, Chloe Kim seemed a regular girl next door.

Earlier in the day, the American was more like a superwoman as she claimed gold with an incredible first run that included two 1080s at Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou.

After becoming the first woman to win two snowboard halfpipe Olympic golds, Kim covered her mouth and dropped to her knees after seeing her score of 94 points. Although Kim fell on the next two runs while trying to land a cab 1260 for the first time in women's competition, she still easily secured first place. Five-time Olympian Queralt Castellet of Spain won silver, with Japan's Sena Tomita taking bronze.

"I'm really proud of myself for going out there and trying it (the cab 1260) despite having to overcome a lot of mental struggles this morning during practice," said Kim who has been competing professionally since he was 13. "It was worth it for sure, 1,000 percent. That's what keeps me going. I wish I'd landed it, but next time."

Her rivals all agree that Kim has raised the women's halfpipe game to a whole new level. And they have to push their limits just to catch up with her.

"Competitor-wise, all the girls have been absolutely killing it. At Pyeongchang 2018, frontside 1080 wasn't that common, and now it seems like every girl can do a frontside 1080," the 21-year-old added.

Kim's fans love her not just for her exploits on the snow, but also because of her down-to-earth nature.

She was so chilled out during the halfpipe finals of the Pyeongchang Games, that, in between runs, she tweeted her regret at not being able to finish her breakfast sandwich that morning. She then proceeded to become the youngest female athlete to win Olympic gold on snow at the age of 17.

Afterward, the fame game kicked into overdrive, with Kim doing the rounds on TV chat shows and even having a Barbie doll designed in her likeness.

Soon, she started to struggle with being a celebrity. After spending 22 months off the mountain, Kim picked up right where she left off with a world title, crediting therapy and her focus on mental health for her seamless comeback.

"It's unfair to be expected to be perfect, and I'm not perfect in any way, but after my last Olympics I put that pressure on myself to be perfect at all times and that would cause a lot of issues at home. I would be really sad and depressed all the time when I was home, and I was hurting the people I love the most," she said. "It's really healthy for me to let it all out and let everyone know what's going through my mind."

Now, Kim is refusing to predict how many more Olympics she will take part in. It's all about how she feels mentally and physically.

"What you guys need to understand is this isn't an easy sport. It's really hard. And all the ladies make it look really easy, but I promise you, if any of you tried to do half the things they did, it wouldn't end very well," she said.

"There's a lot of blood, sweat and tears and hard work and sacrifice from families. And that's not easy. I fall on my butt and I'm sore for three days."

On Thursday, China's newly crowned Big Air champion Gu Ailing was a keen spectator as Kim attempted the cab 1260. Afterward, Kim ran toward Gu, and the two hugged.

The 18-year-old Gu couldn't stay to watch Kim's last run because she was off to prepare for the freeski slopestyle event at the same venue.

"I'm always here for her when she needs me. She messaged me the other day, she was dealing with some stuff and it's my job as a friend to support her the best I can," Kim said.

As someone who has also received overwhelming public attention, and sometimes criticism, Kim knows all too well what Gu is going through.

"Luckily, it was a learning curve since the last time," she said.

"Now that I've grown up a little more and I understand boundaries and I have an amazing therapist, so I think it will make the journey a lot more doable."

cuijia@chinadaily.com.cn