5 questions for...
Laura Okmin
Laura Okmin is co-hosting Westwood One’s “Today in PyeongChang,” a nightly two-hour live broadcast that will air during the network’s exclusive national radio coverage of the Winter Olympics. Okmin spoke with The Post’s Justin Terranova about her Olympic experience and what makes covering the Games special.
Q: What has your experience in Pyeongchang been like thus far?
A: The first four words that pop into my head are: cold and sleep deprived. But the longer, heartfelt answer starts with one word: wonderful. And that was my answer from the second my plane landed here and I’m quite sure it’ll be my answer after the closing ceremonies.
Q: Is there anything that concerns you about the facilities?
A: If you asked me that in Sochi, I would’ve had a laundry list for you, but there’s been no concerns here. Pyeongchang was ready for this. The scenery is beautiful and there’s incredible art and statues that line the streets. It’s been beautiful. It’s so cold and yet I keep choosing to walk over jumping on shuttles because I don’t want to miss anything.
Q: What is special about covering the Olympics?
A: As a member of the media, you’re not allowed to root for a team. You are impartial. The Olympics is the one time you really feel like you are part of the team. … I love that when I meet a medal winner, I get to tell them how happy I am for them and celebrate with them. Also, during a time where media and athletes relations has been strained, this is completely opposite. Every Olympian I’ve interviewed genuinely loves telling their story.
Q: Who could become a household name during the Games?
A: One of the things I love about covering the Olympics is that it’s the one time we really give women ath- letes the spotlight they deserve. ... Chloe Kim will be loved by everyone. She’s 17 and my favorite thing about her is she sounds 17. I smile every time I see her talk or read anything she says. She’s a California girl, but her father emigrated from South Korea with $800 and went from working minimum-wage jobs to a very successful businessman. It’s a great American dream story. Q: What impresses you about Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn? A: They’re both coming off tough experiences in Sochi and I’ve loved how both of them haven’t shied away from that. They’ve openly talked about how those lessons made them better as athletes and as people. They are such outstanding role models for young girls (and boys!) and I’d love for them to have performances as strong as their expectations so they can talk about how failure helped them as much as the success.