"It would be such an honor to represent my father's country at the 2028 Olympics in my hometown of Los Angeles," said Chloe Cho, a 20-year-old Korean-American gymnast, during an interview at a gymnastics facility in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on June 29.
Cho was training alongside middle school athletes and members of the Suwon City Hall gymnastics team, blending in naturally with the local athletes.
Cho, who arrived in South Korea for the first time in her life on June 26, is visiting to take classes at Chungnam National University as an exchange student during the summer break. She is also scheduled to compete as an exhibition athlete at the 51st KBS Cup National Gymnastics Championships, which will be held for three days starting July 3 in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province.
Born in 2006, Cho is a promising gymnast competing in the NCAA Division I for the University of Illinois.
She began gymnastics at age six and was named the Big Ten Women's Gymnastics Freshman of the Year in 2025, her debut season, proving her immense potential.
Cho aspires to be a gymnast who combines strength and technique with artistry and emotional expression.
"I have looked up to Nastia Liukin (retired, USA) as my role model since I was young," Cho said. "She was a gymnast who added artistry, dance, and emotion to the sport, and I have always admired the beauty she brought to gymnastics."
She added, "Vault isn't my favorite event, but watching Yeo Seo-jeong (Jecheon City Hall) perform is truly inspiring because she makes it look so easy. I was impressed by her powerful yet elegant style."
Cho has already proven her competitiveness in the US collegiate gymnastics scene.
An all-around gymnast, she has shown strong performances on the uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise.
During her freshman year in the 2025 season, she claimed 16 individual titles and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week four times.
Her growth continued into the current season.
Cho recorded a 9.950, near-perfect score, on the uneven bars five times this season and raised her all-around career-high score to 39.575, which ranks tied for sixth in University of Illinois history.
By the end of her sophomore season in 2026, she had accumulated a total of 41 individual titles.
Han Yoon-soo, a professor of physical education at Kyungpook National University who observed Cho's training on June 28, noted, "It was impressive to see her perform her skills without hesitation despite the change in equipment and environment. She adapts well to new surroundings and shows great confidence." He added, "She has excellent elasticity when performing on the floor and vault. She is a gymnast who possesses the strengths of the powerful American style."
During the interview, Cho introduced herself in Korean, saying, "Hello, I am Cho Ji-yoon."
Ji-yoon is the name given to her by her grandmother. The character 'Ji' represents wisdom, while 'Yoon' signifies grace or elegance.
Cho's father, a native of Busan, immigrated to the United States in 1977 with his parents. The family lived in Oahu, Hawaii, for about eight to nine years before settling in California.
Growing up, Cho maintained her Korean identity by visiting her grandmother's house and experiencing Korean food, games, and culture.
Cho had wanted to visit Korea for a long time. Although it was her father's birthplace and the root of her identity, she had been unable to visit due to circumstances.
Her father had also hoped to return to Korea during his lifetime, but his wish was never fulfilled. After being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2017, his health deteriorated due to various complications, and he passed away last year at the age of 57 without ever stepping foot in Korea again.
Her father's death was a major shock to the young gymnast. She even struggled and stayed away from the gym for about three months.
That is why this first trip to Korea is so special to her.
"The hardest part is not being able to call my father when I achieve good results after a competition," Cho said. "My father always wanted to take me to Korea. I had wanted to come here for a long time, and when I looked into exchange programs at the University of Illinois, I found the program at Chungnam National University and applied."
Cho, who is considered talented enough to compete for a spot on the US national team, wants to compete in the 2028 LA Olympics under the South Korean flag.
While there are many complex procedures to follow before she can represent Korea on the international stage, her dream of competing for her father's country in the city where she was born and raised is even greater.
The upcoming KBS Cup is the first opportunity for Cho to showcase her skills in front of Korean gymnastics officials and athletes.
"I will learn what steps are needed (to qualify for the national team)," Cho said with a smile. "I want to gain the eligibility to stay in Korea and join a domestic team. I haven't even booked my return ticket to the US yet."
She added, "It would be a true honor to represent Korea at the LA Olympics."
(Photo: Yonhap News)