Gymnast Chloe Cho eyes LA Olympics under Korean flag

DAEJEON — Chloe Cho calls gymnastics “a blessing.” It is how she discovered her strength, processed grief, and most importantly, found her way back to her father’s country.

Now, the 20-year-old is quietly working toward a singular goal: to represent Korea at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Growing up Korean American in California Born in 2006 to a Korean father and American mother, Cho grew up just north of Los Angeles in Santa Clarita, California, in a household where Korean food, language and family rituals were woven into everyday life, even if she did not speak the language fluently.

Her Korean name is Ji-yoon, a name her grandmother chose for her, carries the meaning of wisdom and grace.

“My upbringing just felt normal to me,” she said during an interview with The Korea Times.

“My mom is American, my dad was born in Korea but moved to Hawaii when he was nine, then to L.A. where my parents met.” She recalled weekends at her grandmother’s house: “We would eat, take a nap, then we’d watch K-drama or play go-stop (a Korean card game) for an hour.” Korean was the la ...