Two-time Olympic gold medal-winning snowboarder Chloe Kim is embracing a transparent approach to mental health, opening up about her recent attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis and breaking the stigma surrounding the condition.

Early Signs of ADHD in Childhood

Reflecting on her early years, Kim remembers launching herself off furniture with boundless energy. She recalled being a spunky child whose parents knew she was destined for athletics. Constant trips to the emergency room for cuts and bruises from playing too hard at school made her eventual career in extreme sports feel entirely natural.

However, as she matured into her teens, the signs grew increasingly confusing. While she possessed the intense focus and discipline required to excel at her sport, managing daily life felt remarkably difficult. Completing basic chores and maintaining a sense of personal organization proved to be significant hurdles.

Battling Scattered Thoughts and Overwhelm

At age 17, Kim made history at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, becoming the youngest woman to win an Olympic snowboarding gold medal. Behind the scenes, she experienced a persistent sense of being scattered and overwhelmed, initially attributing it to the intense public attention surrounding her athletic triumphs.

Over time, she recognized that her symptoms ran deeper. Conversations often involved rapid, erratic jumps between unrelated topics—like pivoting instantly to mention avocado toast. While friends and family dismissed these non-sequiturs as humor, Kim privately suspected she might have ADHD. Hesitant to breach the topic within her household due to familial taboos surrounding mental health, she delayed seeking professional evaluation.

Kim continued to cement her athletic legacy, defending her halfpipe gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, capturing multiple World Championships and X Games titles, and becoming the first woman to successfully land a 1260 in competition history in 2024.

Seeking Clarity After the 2026 Winter Olympics

Following a grueling campaign at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy—where she secured a silver medal despite competing with a dislocated shoulder—Kim decided to take control of her health. Seeking a psychiatrist for a comprehensive symptom evaluation, she received an official ADHD diagnosis.

This delayed realization is a common experience, particularly for girls and women, often leaving them with a profound sense of validation after years of unanswered questions. Initially, Kim felt intimidated by treatment options, associating pharmaceutical management exclusively with stimulants. However, she eventually expanded her perspective, recognizing the viability of various medical pathways, including non-stimulant alternatives.

Medical treatments for ADHD encompass several options, such as selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors like atomoxetine (Strattera), norepinephrine-modulating agents like viloxazine (Qelbree), and extended-release alpha-2 adrenergic agonists like guanfacine ER (Intuniv) and clonidine ER (Kapvay, Onyda XR). Each prescription carries unique indications that require careful guidance from a knowledgeable medical specialist.

Finding Relief With Qelbree

Working alongside her physician to determine the most suitable approach, Kim opted for a non-stimulant path and was prescribed Qelbree. Within approximately ten days of beginning the once-daily medication, she experienced a noticeable cognitive shift and woke up feeling significantly more clear-headed.

Describing the journey as akin to physical training—where gradual improvements accumulate until a person looks back in astonishment—Kim noted a dramatic increase in her daily productivity and conversational focus.

Advocating for Women and Girls With ADHD

Drawing inspiration from athletes like tennis star Naomi Osaka and gymnast Simone Biles, Kim resolved to speak more openly about psychological well-being. Because ADHD frequently presents differently in females, it is often overlooked, a factor that inspired her to partner with Supernus Pharmaceuticals for the Ms. Represented campaign, which encourages women and girls to recognize symptoms and advocate for appropriate care.

Now balancing a packed schedule featuring appearances on NBC's reality competition show "The Traitors" and a collaboration with NikeSKIMS, Kim navigates life with a renewed sense of calm and control, fully embracing this pivotal transformation.