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Brandon Kim first discovered short-track speedskating while watching the 2010 Winter Olympics on television. The Fairfax native was captivated by the athletes’ speed, even though his own introduction to the ice was far less graceful.

“I was one of the worst beginners I’ve ever seen,” Kim said. His coach had him push a bucket or folding chair around the rink to keep him from falling.

Now 24, Kim is preparing to make his Olympic debut for Team USA at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games.

Kim became the youngest competitor at the 2018 U.S. Olympic trials ahead of the Pyeongchang Games. Four years later, he entered the trials for Beijing as one of the country’s most promising skaters, but equipment and conditioning problems derailed his bid.

He fell about five times during the weekend, which he described as the worst competition of his career.

Missing the Olympic team intensified his ambition. Kim said the setback made him hungrier and left him with a chip on his shoulder.

He went on to represent the United States at two world championships. At the 2026 U.S. Championships, he won gold in the 500-, 1,000- and 1,500-meter events. His 39.83-second finish in the men’s 500 broke a record that had stood for nearly 13 years.

Despite finally securing his Olympic place, Kim is trying to keep the moment in perspective.

“At the end of the day, it’s just another competition,” he said.

Kim has been training with the national team in Utah, where he spends his downtime bowling with friends or watching Netflix at his apartment.

His route to the Olympics has differed from that of many elite athletes. Kim graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and is pursuing a computer science degree at Stanford University, with plans to attend medical school after completing his undergraduate studies.

Stanford has neither a short-track team nor an ice rink, leaving Kim without ice time while he is at school. He said that has forced him to “wing it” when traveling to World Cup competitions.

Kim took a year away from Stanford to prepare for the Winter Games while also studying for the MCAT.

“I think I took a different path from all these other athletes,” he said. “I’m not a student athlete.”