Chloe Kim says she doesn't know where gold medal is while attending state dinner at White House
Olympic snowboard champion Chloe Kim attended a black-tie state dinner at the White House hosted by President Biden in honor of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday.
Kim, who is first-generation Korean-American, wore a flowing gray dress with a bunched accent on the side that featured a pop of pink.
When asked by pool reporters if she brought her gold medal, Kim had a surprising answer.
"I didn't wear my medal. I don't know where it is," she said.
The black-tie affair was for Biden and the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, to honor Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee.
Actress Angelina Jolie, reality star home improvement couple Chip and Joanna Gaines, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank and former Major League Baseball pitcher Chan Ho Park were also among the nearly 200 guests.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist said this was her second time visiting the White House. Biden invited the Olympians and Paralympians who competed in the 2021 and 2022 Games to the White House in May 2022.
She previously declined an invitation from President Donald Trump to visit the White House after the 2018 Games. That year, she became the youngest woman to win a gold medal in halfpipe when she did so at 17.
"I am very nervous," Kim said of the event Wednesday. "The food's gonna be really good."
The dinner, which featured crab cakes, beef ribs and deconstructed banana splits, was presented by celebrity chef Edward Lee, who is also Korean-American.
“It’s not traditional Korean food but just gives you a little hint of Korean flavors,” he told the Associated Press.
RESET: Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim to take a break from snowboarding to focus on her mental health
A year ago, Kim said that she was going to take some time off during the 2022-23 season to take care of her mental health. She said then she plans on competing in the 2026 Olympics.
Last month, Biden appointed Kim to his President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, & Nutrition. The goal of the organization is to "promote healthy, accessible eating and physical activity for all Americans, regardless of background or ability." Other members include Hall of Fame basketball player Tamika Catchings, MLB general manager Kim Ng and four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry and his wife, Ayesha.
Kim is a co-founder of the sports media platform Togethxer. In 2021, she joined forces with fellow Olympians Alex Morgan, Sue Bird and Simone Manuel to launch the company in hopes of uplifting untold stories.