Chloe Kim Says Things Didn’t ‘Make Sense’ Before ADHD Diagnosis: ‘I Want to Be Productive’

Shortly after Chloe Kim took home a silver medal at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, she was diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

“It was right after the Olympics,” the pro snowboarder, 26, exclusively tells First For Women. “I felt like I was struggling a bit for a while, and I think I was so scared to get diagnosed. I wasn’t sure, but I had an inkling that it was ADHD.”

Though Kim has always been a fierce competitor in sports, remaining incredibly focused when she is outside and in action, she reveals that she struggled with everyday tasks.

The athlete previously took home the gold in the women’s snowboard halfpipe at both the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, but at home, she couldn’t seem to stay on track.

“It took me so long to get help because I was like, ‘This doesn’t make sense. I’m so good at my sport. I’m so focused when it comes to my sport. I am so disciplined,'” says Kim, who partnered with Qelbree, a non-stimulant ADHD medication after being diagnosed with the neurodevelopmental condition.

“I do everything I need to be great at my job, but the rest of my life didn’t get that same attention and didn’t get that love that it deserved, whether it be going to the grocery store and getting all the things that I needed or showing up on time and keeping track of all my appointments,” she says. “Winter is a season; the whole rest of the year is up for grabs, and I want to be productive in those moments, too.”

Being diagnosed and having the knowledge of what she is dealing with has helped with training as well.

“I dealt with a lot of discomfort,” Kim explains. “After I was done training, I would just stay in bed. That was so easy to dismiss because I was like, ‘Well, of course I’m just tired because I just trained for five hours.'”

But now, Kim says, she’s able to recognize her symptoms and take care of herself at home.

“I can go out and go for a walk or hang out with my friends and have good conversations where I get to finish my thoughts from start to finish,” she tells First For Women. “It’s the little things that really do add up.”

Kim is raising awareness about females living with the condition by way of the “Ms. Represented” campaign from Supernus Pharmaceuticals.

“Watching other amazing athletes speak out on their mental health really inspired me to do the same because it is so real,” Kim says. “Your mental health is such a big part of sport and life in general.”