Last month, “06880” described the heartwarming friendship between Julia Marino and Chaihyun Kim.
They met in Long Lots Elementary School kindergarten, and for the next 3 years were inseparable.
They went their separate ways later, as kids do. But — as Julia became a US Olympic team snowboarder, and Chai a pre-med student at Yale University — their friendship endured.
Chai and Julia, age 6.
As Julia got ready to head to PyeongChang for the Winter Games, Chai and her family used their South Korean contacts to help Julia’s family find lodging and tickets.
It’s exactly the type of story NBC loves. Many Olympic viewers are casual — or even non — sports fans. By showcasing athletes’ back stories, the network hopes those viewers will be drawn into the drama of sports.
Area residents can tune in at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday, February 17, WNBC-TV Channel 4) for Julia and Chai’s story on “The Olympic Zone.” NBC stations around the country will also air the show; check local listings for time.
That segment should whet viewers’ appetites for Julia’s big air competition. It begins Monday (Sunday, US time).
(Hat tips: Sharon and John Miller)
Julia Marino