2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26107971D

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 302

Offered March 9, 2026

Commending Brandon Kim.

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Patrons—Shin; Senator: Pekarsky

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WHEREAS, Brandon Kim, a Fairfax County native and a three-time United States national champion in short track speed skating, was selected as a member of Team USA for the XXV Winter Olympic Games in 2026; and

WHEREAS, the child of Korean immigrants, Brandon Kim was inspired to begin training as a speed skater at age nine after watching the 2010 Winter Olympics and joined a local speed skating club near his home; and

WHEREAS, Brandon Kim graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, where he won a National AP Scholar award and a National Merit Scholarship; and

WHEREAS, as a freshman in high school, Brandon Kim won a bronze medal at the International Skating Union (ISU) Short Track Junior World Championships as part of the men's relay team; he subsequently became a member of the United States Men's Short Track National Team during his junior year of high school; and

WHEREAS, Brandon Kim has volunteered as a US Speedskating Level 1 coach and served as an athlete representative on the US Speedskating Medical Committee and on the US Speedskating Athlete Advisory Council, advocating for the rights of athletes on the national team and across the United States; and

WHEREAS, Brandon Kim is currently a computer science student at Stanford University with plans to attend medical school after graduation; with no speed skating team or ice rink on campus, he developed his own training regimen combining gym workouts and dryland drills on the track; and

WHEREAS, in 2026, Brandon Kim swept all three individual events at the U.S. Short Track Championships, winning gold medals for his 500-meter, 1000-meter, and 1,500-meter skates; he finished the 500-meter event in 39.83 seconds, breaking a United States national record that was nearly 13 years old; and

WHEREAS, Brandon Kim has also won one silver medal and three bronze medals on the ISU Short Track World Tour over the course of his career; and

WHEREAS, Brandon Kim qualified for Team USA and a trip to the XXV Winter Olympic Games, held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, with his outstanding performance on the ISU Short Track World Tour; and

WHEREAS, a first-time Olympian, Brandon Kim participated in the men's 500-meter short track speed skating event, men's 1000-meter short track speed skating event, men's 1,500-meter short track speed skating event, and the mixed team relay short track speed skating event; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Brandon Kim for representing the Commonwealth as a member of Team USA at the XXV Winter Olympic Games in 2026; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Brandon Kim as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his athletic achievements.