Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Meet the SoCal athletes competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics
Hailey Langland trains during a snowboard practice session ahead of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Phoenix Snow Park on February 7, 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
(
Al Bello/Getty Images
)
Snowboarder Hailey Langland poses for a portrait during the Team USA Media Summit ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games on September 27, 2017 in Park City, Utah.
(
Tom Pennington/Getty Images
)
Gus Kenworthy and Shaun White of the United States enter the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on February 9, 2018.
(
Clive Mason/Getty Images
)
Bobsledder Carlo Valdes poses for a portrait ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games on September 26, 2017 in Park City, Utah.
(
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
)
Alexa Scimeca Knierim and Chris Knierim compete in the figure skating team event pair skating short program during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on February 9, 2018.
(
MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images
)
Cayla Barnes (#3) of the United States Women's Hockey Team poses for a portrait on January 16, 2018 in Wesley Chapel, Florida.
(
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
)
Chloe Kim looks on after finishing in second place in the final round of the Ladies' Snowboard Halfpipe during the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix on January 20, 2018 in Mammoth, California.
(
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
)
Mirai Nagasu competes in the Ladies Short Program during the 2018 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the SAP Center on January 3, 2018 in San Jose, California.
(
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
)
Jonathon Blum (#7) of the Nashville Predators looks to make a play against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena on February 23, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan.
(
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
)
U.S. skater Adam Rippon practices at Gangneung Ice Arena ahead of the team event of the men's figure skating before the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on February 7, 2018.
(
MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images
)
Maddie Mastro reacts on the podium after placing third in the final round of the Ladies' Snowboard Halfpipe during the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix on January 20, 2018 in Mammoth, California.
(
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
)
Ten athletes from Southern California are in South Korea competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics.* It's a long road from Torrance to Pyeongchang. Here's a little bit about how they made the journey.
*That number doesn't include athletes who were born in Southern California but have made their homes elsewhere, like bobsledder Lauren Gibbs, who was born in Los Angeles but lives in Denver.
Chris Knierim
Figure Skating
Alexa Scimeca Knierim and Chris Knierim compete in the figure skating team event pair skating short program during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on February 9, 2018.
(
MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images
)
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Sponsored message
Birthplace: Tuscon, AZ
Born: November 5, 1987
Olympic History: None
Fun Facts: Knierim began competing with partner Alexa Scimeca in 2012 — and married her in 2016. His hobbies include fishing, working on cars, camping and hiking. MORE DETAILS
Shaun White
Snowboarding
Gus Kenworthy and Shaun White of the United States enter the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on February 9, 2018.
(
Clive Mason/Getty Images
)
Sponsored message
Hometown: Carlsbad, CA
Birthplace: San Diego, CA
Born: September 3, 1986
Olympic History: 2006 Gold (Halfpipe), 2010 Gold (Halfpipe), 2014
Fun Facts: White began competing professionally at age 13 and has won 10 ESPY awards for Best Male Action Sports Athlete and Best Male U.S. Olympic Athlete. MORE DETAILS
Hailey Langland
Snowboarding
Snowboarder Hailey Langland poses for a portrait during the Team USA Media Summit ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games on September 27, 2017 in Park City, Utah.
(
Tom Pennington/Getty Images
)
Sponsored message
Hometown: San Clemente, CA
Birthplace: Irvine, CA
Born: August 2, 2000
Olympic History: None
Fun Facts: Langland competes on the Tahoe Select Snowboard Team. When she's not on the snow, she plays the ukulele, piano and guitar. MORE DETAILS
Jonathon Blum
Ice Hockey
Jonathon Blum (#7) of the Nashville Predators looks to make a play against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena on February 23, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan.
(
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
)
Sponsored message
Hometown: Ladera Ranch, CA
Birthplace: Long Beach, CA
Born: January 30, 1989
Olympic History: None
Fun Facts: Blum became the first Californian-born man to be selected in the first round of the NHL draft when he was chosen 23rd overall by the Nashville Predators in 2007. MORE DETAILS
Carlo Valdes
Bobsled
Bobsledder Carlo Valdes poses for a portrait ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games on September 26, 2017 in Park City, Utah.
(
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
)
Hometown: Newport Beach, CA
Birthplace: Newport Beach, CA
Born: February 11, 1990
Olympic History: None
Fun Facts: Valdes played wide receiver for UCLA's football team before shifting to track and field as a decathlete then switching to javelin. One of his college teammates introduced him to bobsled and his head coach encouraged him to pursue it. Valdes has a Bachelor's degree in history from UCLA. MORE DETAILS
Chloe Kim
Snowboarding
Chloe Kim looks on after finishing in second place in the final round of the Ladies' Snowboard Halfpipe during the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix on January 20, 2018 in Mammoth, California.
(
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
)
Hometown: Torrance, CA
Birthplace: Long Beach, CA
Born: April 23, 2000
Olympic History: None
Fun Facts: Kim began snowboarding at age four. She spent the third and fourth grades studying in Geneva, Switzerland. In addition to English, she speaks French and Korean. In 2016, she was nominated for an ESPY award for Best Breakthrough Athlete. MORE DETAILS
Cayla Barnes
Ice Hockey
Cayla Barnes (#3) of the United States Women's Hockey Team poses for a portrait on January 16, 2018 in Wesley Chapel, Florida.
(
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
)
Hometown: Eastvale, CA
Birthplace: Eastvale, CA
Born: January 7, 1999
Olympic History: None
Fun Facts: Barnes has four brothers. Her hobbies include roller hockey, soccer, lacrosse and reading. MORE DETAILS
Adam Rippon
Figure Skating
U.S. skater Adam Rippon practices at Gangneung Ice Arena ahead of the team event of the men's figure skating before the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on February 7, 2018.
(
MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images
)
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Birthplace: Scranton, PA
Born: November 11, 1989
Olympic History: None
Fun Facts: Rippon began skating at age 9. He has choreographed programs for fellow skaters Mirai Nagasu, Ashley Wagner and Christina Gao. He was born deaf and underwent corrective surgery at Yale University just before his first birthday, allowing him to hear almost perfectly. MORE DETAILS
Mirai Nagasu
Figure Skating
Mirai Nagasu competes in the Ladies Short Program during the 2018 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the SAP Center on January 3, 2018 in San Jose, California.
(
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
)
Hometown: Arcadia, CA
Birthplace: Montebello, CA
Born: April 16, 1993
Olympic History: 2010
Fun Facts: This will be Nagasu's second Olympic Games. At the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, she placed fourth. In 2014, she narrowly missed making the team for the Sochi Olympics. Nagasu has been skating since she was five years old. MORE DETAILS
Maddie Mastro
Snowboarding
Maddie Mastro reacts on the podium after placing third in the final round of the Ladies' Snowboard Halfpipe during the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix on January 20, 2018 in Mammoth, California.
(
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
)
Hometown: Wrightwood, CA
Birthplace: Wrightwood, CA
Born: February 22, 2000
Olympic History: None
Fun Facts: Mastro started out skiing as a toddler and transitioned to snowboarding after her parents brought her a pink snowboard when she was six years old. MORE DETAILS
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
