Simon Cho
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Seoul, South Korea
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationality | American | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | October 7, 1991 Seoul, South Korea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 153 lb (69 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Korean name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hangul | 조성문 [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RR | Jo Seongmun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MR | Cho Sŏngmun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Potomac Speedskating Club (Arlington County, Virginia) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turned pro | 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Olympic finals | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest world ranking | 8 (500m) 15 (overall) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Simon Cho (born October 7, 1991) is a retired Korean American short track speed skater who was a member of the US Olympic Team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.[2] He is currently the head coach at Potomac Speed Skating Club. Since Cho has become head coach, Potomac Speed Skating Club has been one of the top ranked clubs in the United States with evidence pointing from their Short Track National Club Championship 2016–2017 in March 2017 and a back to back team championship performance at the Buffalo Short Track Championships on October 21–22, 2017.[citation needed]
Cho was born in Seoul, South Korea and moved to the United States as an undocumented immigrant with his parents at the age of four and settled in Chicago.[3] He remained an undocumented immigrant until he reached the age of 11.[4]
Growing up, Cho recounted that life was financially difficult as an undocumented immigrant, stating, "My parents left for work before I woke up and came back home after I went to sleep. We had financial difficulties and there were times when we had no water or electricity for a few days because we weren't able to pay the bills. Other daily activities that others take for granted such as having a drivers’ license was difficult for my father".[3][4] Due to a display of skill in speed skating, his parents sold their business and spent their savings to move to Salt Lake City to train Cho for the sport after he graduated from junior high school. Simon Cho now resides in Rockville, Maryland and when he is not coaching, he enjoys watching sports, documentaries and attending concerts.[3]
