Best Athletes of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games

Nailing all those 1080s, Chloe Kim proved herself a snowboarding queen in the women's halfpipe. During the finals, she left her mark on Winter Olympic history by becoming the youngest woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the women's snowboard halfpipe at 17 years of age. As one NBC article mentioned, her performance truly captivated those watching, including me and my sister, who were thrilled by her run in the finals.

Red Gerard became the first American gold medalist at the 2018 Winter Olympics and the youngest American to medal in a snowboarding event at the Olympics. For his first appearance at the Winter Olympics, his debut was spectacular. Gerard took home the gold in the men's slopestyle finals. NBC's suggestion that he could be the face of the future of snowboarding doesn't seem like an exaggeration.

Red Gerard is a fantastic snowboarder and, in my opinion, better than Chloe Kim.

Ester Ledecka made history as the first woman to win medals in two different sports at the Winter Olympics. The Czech athlete won gold in both the super-G in alpine skiing and the parallel giant slalom in snowboarding. Ledecka initially focused on snowboarding, but she showcased her Olympic talent by winning gold in alpine skiing, a sport that isn't her main focus. Such a feat is rare and impressive.

It's very impressive what she achieved in the Olympics.

Mirai Nagasu is the first American female figure skater to land a triple axel at the Winter Olympics. She was also one of the teammates who won bronze for the United States in the figure skating team event.

Nagasu is one of many Asian-American athletes at the 2018 Winter Olympics, and her achievements add to the excitement for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The seven-time U.S. national medalist is known for her strong spinning technique. With her skating skills and dedication to improving her jumps, Nagasu made figure skating history for America at the Winter Olympics.

Nathan Chen exemplifies the saying, If at first you don't succeed, try again. Unlike many athletes on this list, Chen had multiple achievements. He contributed to the United States' bronze medal in the figure skating team event. While he initially performed poorly in the men's singles event, he made a remarkable comeback in the free skate, completing six quadruple jumps and successfully landing five. This performance earned him a score of 215.08, the highest in Olympic history, and a total score of 297.35, moving him from 17th to 5th place. His perseverance is truly commendable.

Adam Rippon became the first openly gay male athlete to win a medal at the Winter Olympics. According to NBC, Rippon made his Olympic debut in Pyeongchang after missing out on Vancouver and Sochi in 2010 and 2014, respectively. Although he didn't win a gold medal, his performance on ice and the history and legacy he established for current and aspiring LGBT athletes were significant. As Rippon himself said, "I might not be the best, but I'm the most fun." Well done, Rippon.

Yuzuru Hanyu defended his gold medal in men's singles figure skating, becoming a two-time Olympic champion. Despite a three-month hiatus due to a severe ankle injury prior to Pyeongchang 2018, the Japanese athlete managed to secure his title once again, following his victory in Sochi 2014. Here's hoping he continues to master landing quadruple axels in the future.

Yuzuru Hanyu won gold in both the Sochi and Pyeongchang men's singles events. Unfortunately, I've never watched him live in either competition. I've seen videos of his performances, and he is amazing. In my opinion, he should be ranked above Nathan Chen, who hasn't won a gold medal yet.

Yun Sung-Bin became the first Korean gold medalist in men's skeleton. According to NBC, prior to Yun Sung-Bin's victory, athletes from only nine different countries, including the United States, Austria, Canada, Germany, and Switzerland, had been the mainstay champions in men's skeleton. With his enthralling third run, he not only won South Korea's first gold medal in skeleton but also South Korea's first gold medal at Pyeongchang 2018. He could be considered the Red Gerard of Korea.

The elder brother of the Shibutani siblings. According to Wikipedia, Alex Shibutani is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist (2018), a three-time World medalist (silver in 2016. Bronze in 2011 and 2017), the 2016 Four Continents champion, and a two-time U.S. national champion (2016, 2017).

Along with his sister, they have won six titles on the Grand Prix series and stood on the podium at 14 consecutive U.S. Championships across five levels, including eight as seniors, as well as a silver medal at the 2009 World Junior Championships. The Shibutani siblings are notable for being the first ice dancers of Asian descent to medal at the Olympics, earning bronze. In addition, they're the second sibling duo to win an ice dancing medal at the Winter Olympics and the first such duo from the United States.

In a Winter Olympics where all Russian athletes were restricted from representing their home country due to a doping scandal, Alina Zagitova stood out as a major standout among the Russian athletes at the 2018 Winter Olympics. She became one of the first Russian athletes to win a gold medal, taking first place in ladies' singles figure skating. Her silver medal from the team event with the OAR team is also noteworthy. Her championships and Grand Prix titles from previous seasons showcase how she achieved her success.