American · Newport, Rhode Island, USA · Born 26 July 1983American snowboarder and the most decorated halfpipe rider in the sport's history, who became the first U.S. woman to win Olympic snowboarding gold in 2002.
Kelly Clark was born on 26 July 1983 in Newport, Rhode Island, and began snowboarding at age seven before training at Mount Snow Academy in Vermont. She joined the U.S. Snowboard Team in 2000 at 16 after winning gold at the FIS Junior World Championships, and by 2002 was already the dominant force in women's halfpipe. At the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, an 18-year-old Clark won gold in the halfpipe, becoming the first American to win an Olympic snowboarding title of any kind. She went on to compete in an unprecedented five consecutive Winter Olympics through 2018, adding bronze medals at both the 2010 Vancouver and 2014 Sochi Games - the latter coming twelve years after her first gold. In 2011, she became the first woman to land a 1080-degree spin in competition, a landmark moment for technical progression in women's freestyle snowboarding. Clark's career totals - 78 wins from 137 podium finishes across roughly 200 events, 14 X Games medals including 7 golds, and a then-record 21 consecutive Winter X Games appearances - established her as, in the words of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, 'the most accomplished snowboarder in history with more wins than any other rider, male or female.' She retired in January 2019 at the Winter X Games in Aspen, having mentored a generation of American halfpipe riders including Chloe Kim, whom she first met at Mammoth Mountain when Kim was eight years old. In 2010 she founded the Kelly Clark Foundation to remove financial barriers for young snowboarders.
Becoming the first American to win Olympic snowboarding gold and the most decorated halfpipe rider in the sport's history across five Olympic Games
How They Played
Technically precise, amplitude-driven halfpipe specialist known for pioneering spins and remarkable longevity across five Olympic cycles
Lasting Impact
Regarded as the most dominant athlete in the history of women's halfpipe snowboarding, whose two-decade career and mentorship helped build the sport's next generation, including Chloe Kim
Career Honours
- 2002 Olympic Gold Medalist, Halfpipe (first American Olympic snowboard champion)
- 2x Olympic Bronze Medalist (2010, 2014)
- 7x X Games Gold Medalist
- First woman to land a 1080 in competition (2011)
American Athletes