Over the years, Team USA has slowly become increasingly diverse in its team composition. Out of the 242 athletes competing for Team USA in PyeongChang this month, 12 of them are from the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. These 12 athletes come from a variety of backgrounds and are competing in various events.
J.R. Celski
As a third time Olympic short track speed skater, Celski has already made a name for himself in his sport. He won silver in the 5,000-meter relay in 2014 and bronze in the same event in 2010 and also has a long list of various championships and awards to his name.
Photo courtesy of Team USA.
Karen Chen
Hailing from Fremont, California, Chen is an 18-year-old figure skater who won the bronze Nationals medal at the United States championships in 2018 and 2015.
Courtesy of US Figure Skating.
Nathan Chen
Chen is an 18-year-old figure skater from Salt Lake City, Utah. He won gold at the 2017 International Skating Union Grand Prix and became the first man in the history of the sport to land five quadruple jumps at the 2017 figure skating championships.
Courtesy of US Figure Skating.
Madison Chock
Competing with her partner Evan Bates, Chock is two-time Olympic ice dancer and a two-time world medalist. Residing in Novi, Michigan, Chock is Chinese Hawaiian on her father’s side.
Courtesy of US Figure Skating.
Thomas Hong
Hong is a 20-year-old short track speed skater from Laurel, Maryland. He finished fourth place overall in the USA team trials.
Courtesy of Team USA.
Chloe Kim
Kim is a first-time Olympian snowboarder from Torrance, California. She won gold at the 2016 Youth Olympic Games in the halfpipe and slopestyle.
Snowboard halfpipe
2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, Korea
Photo courtesy of U.S. Ski & Snowboard
Hailey Langland
Langland is a 17-year-old snowboarder competing in slopestyle, halfpipe and big air events. Langland is the youngest female to represent the United States in snowboarding.
Courtesy of Team USA.
Mirai Nagasu
Nagasu is a two-time Olympic figure skater, competing in the 2010 and 2018 Olympic games. She won fourth place at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
Courtesy of US Figure Skating.
Alex and Maia Shibutani
A two-time Olympic ice dancing pair, Alex and Maia Shibutani are brother and sister and have been skating together since 1998. The two are three-time World medalists and 2016 four continents champions.
Courtesy of US Figure Skating.
Aaron Tran
Tran is a 22-year-old short track speed skater from Federal Way, Washington. He finished in third place overall at the Team USA trials.
Courtesy of Team USA.
Vincent Zhou
Zhou is a 17-year-old solo figure skater from Palo Alto, California, who recently won gold in the 2017 ISU World Junior Championships.
Courtesy of US Figure Skating.
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Featured photo courtesy of US Ski and Snowboard.