Episode Details

All eyes are on PyeongChang, South Korea, the site of the 2018 Winter Olympics, and Asian American Life is celebrating Asian American Olympic medalists who are breaking barriers and inspiring a new generation of athletes.

Two time Olympic winner Lia Neal made history becoming the first bi-racial African and Asian American to win swimming medals in Rio and London. Host/Reporter Ernabel Demillo takes a look at her journey to the top.

Competitive fencing has been a part of every modern Olympic game. It was always a sport dominated by Europeans, but now we’re seeing more Asian Americans compete and excel in the sport. Reporter Kyung Yoon visits one fencing school that trains future Olympic hopefuls.

It’s the first time the men’s South Korean hockey team will be competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics. Leading the team is former NHL Stanley Cup winner Jim Paek who played for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Reporter Andrew Falzon gets up close and personal with South Korea’s new hockey coach Jim Paek.

For an athlete, winning a medal at the Olympic game can be a life changer – no one knows this more than Toby Dawson, a U.S. Men’s Mogul Olympic Bronze Medalist at the 2008 winter games in Torino. His medal earned him an entirely new family and country that embraced him as one of their own. Reporter Minnie Roh shares a heartwarming story tracing Dawson’s journey from adopted son in Korea to becoming USA Olympic ski medalist and hero.

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