Two-time Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim celebrated her 26th birthday on Thursday night at New York’s Lincoln Center by getting carried down the Time 100 Gala’s red carpet by her NFL star boyfriend, Myles Garrett.
Kim, who would also addressed the crowd that evening, donned a sparkling pink Barbie-esque gown while Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, sported a black leather blazer with matching shirt and pants.
They initially did the typical red-carpet photos on their way into the event, which honors 100 influential individuals across a variety of professions. But Kim got a break from her high heels on the way out when the 6ft4, 270-pound Garrett picked her up and carried her down the red carpet.
Kim was seen giggling in the arms of the Cleveland Browns defensive end, who did not struggle to haul the 5ft3 snowboarder.
Described as ‘visibly shaking’ by The New York Times, Kim spoke to the crowd about the importance of community before drawing a round of applause by revealing it was her birthday.
Garrett did not crack the Time 100 Gala list this year, although that could change if he helps the Browns win their first Super Bowl next season. However, PGA Tour star Scottie Scheffler was included in the ‘Titans’ category.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim celebrated her 26th birthday Thursday night at the Time 100 Gala with boyfriend and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett
Kim was seen giggling in the arms of the 6ft4, 270-pound Cleveland Browns defensive end, who did not struggle to carry the 5ft3 snowboarder out of Lincoln Center on Thursday
Kim and Garrett’s photos generated a significant response online.
‘So sweet!!’ read one comment on X in response to their red-carpet moment. ‘They look great together.’
‘Very cute together,’ another added, echoing a comment shared my several others.
And as one Browns fan reluctantly admitted: ‘Crazy he’s not the best athlete in the relationship.’
Kim, who won silver in the halfpipe at the Milan-Cortina Games in February, has been dating the Garrett for around a year.
He even jetted into Livigno, Italy shortly after the Super Bowl in time to cheer on the snowboarding star in the Winter Olympics.
Kim would later address the crowd by discussing the importance of community
Kim has admitted that her dating life hasn’t always been the perfect picture. In fact, the athlete was ready to swear off relationships altogether until she met Garrett.
As she explained to the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast last month, she struggled to cope with the notoriety that came with winning Olympic golds in 2018 and 2022, when she was just 17 and 21.
‘I think there was a weird dynamic shift where it’s like, I have my own house that I bought when I was 21,’ she said. ‘I have all these things, and I’m always busy – people know who I am, I have followers on Instagram.
‘[…] It was just hard. Also, I felt just like they didn’t understand what I was going through either. […] I just want someone to not be intimidated by me and my success because I don’t carry myself in that way.
‘I’m not looking at you and being like, “Oh you suck, because I’m better than you.” I’m trying to be respectful myself and like you as a person but I feel like that’s not being appreciated, and I’m kind of just catching strays for no reason. So I was just so over it.’
Kim was introduced to Garrett by her therapist and the two have been together ever since
Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim was ready to give up on love before meeting Myles Garrett
The defensive end jetted out to Italy to support Kim at the Winter Olympics last month
She recalled a conversation with her physical therapist while at the 2025 X Games during which she vented about her romantic woes.
‘I was like, “I can’t date anymore. I’m done, I’m just going to be single forever,”‘ Kim recalled. ‘I was being so dramatic [saying], “I’m going to get a sperm donor, I don’t need a man. I just want kids and I’m going to live happy and free.”
‘[I told my therapist], “I want somebody that’s tall, handsome, kind, close with their family and I want somebody that is equally as successful as me, if not more.”‘
It was her therapist, Vin, who introduced her to Garrett, having also worked with the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
At first, Kim was unconvinced but then she relented with the introduction taking place over a quick FaceTime. The two have been together ever since.
