Olympic snowboard champion Chloe Kim disclosed a personal diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, leading sports fans across the United States to criticize a media headline that introduced the decorated athlete primarily through her romantic relationship, according to reports published on Feb. 8.
Chloe Kim Publicly Shares Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis
The discussion began after Kim shared her recent medical diagnosis with the public. Describing her experience over the preceding several years, the 26-year-old snowboarder stated that she recently learned she has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. She explained that after struggling for years, she finally opened up honestly to a doctor, after which everything suddenly seemed to fall into place.
The disclosure quickly drew widespread media attention across the United States. However, coverage by the New York Post sparked immediate pushback from readers and sports observers. The publication ran the story with a headline framing Kim as the girlfriend of Myles Garrett, highlighting years of struggle before receiving a life-changing diagnosis.
Sports Fans Object to Relationship-Focused Media Framing
Readers and online commentators quickly criticized the framing, arguing that reducing a multi-time Olympic medalist to a romantic partner ignored her substantial athletic achievements. According to sports aggregation reports by The Spun, fans voiced frustration that an athlete with three Olympic medals was introduced in relation to a partner rather than her own historic sports career.
One commenter noted that while it might seem like a minor detail, giving a headline labeling a three-time Olympic medalist as the girlfriend of Myles Garrett felt absurd. Another pointed out that Kim holds significantly more career accolades than her boyfriend, noting that her boyfriend had not won a playoff game in six years. Critics also argued that because the underlying story focused entirely on Kim’s personal health realization regarding attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, mentioning Myles Garrett in the framing was entirely unnecessary.
At the same time, the coverage did include praise for the athlete. The New York Post noted that achieving such a high level in snowboarding without even knowing she had attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder demonstrated extraordinary determination and self-management skills.
Athletic Legacy in Snowboard Halfpipe Competition
Kim stands as a defining figure in women’s snowboard halfpipe competition. She claimed her first Olympic gold medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics at just 17 years old, making history as the youngest Olympic champion in the event. She followed that performance by defending her title at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics to capture back-to-back gold medals.
At the 2026 Milano-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, Kim secured a silver medal. Chasing a first-ever third Olympic gold, she finished behind South Korea’s emerging snowboarding talent Choi Gaon, adding her third career Olympic medal to her resume.
Kim shares a supportive mentoring relationship with Choi. The American snowboarder, who maintains Korean heritage, previously helped Choi train in the United States alongside her Korean father. Following the 2026 event, Kim approached Choi with a celebratory hug, prompting the younger athlete to share that Kim’s consistent words of encouragement always brought her to tears.
Kim and Myles Garrett Maintain Public Relationship
Kim’s relationship with Myles Garrett became public knowledge in May last year. The pair have since maintained a visible public connection, supporting each other’s demanding professional schedules. Following Garrett’s trade to the Los Angeles Rams, he expressed appreciation for sharing a home city with Kim, noting that her local roots made the geographic alignment a welcome circumstance.
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