Gibson Kim interview
Earlier this year, Korean-American Gibson Kim was a fan favorite on the Netflix series Physical 100. In one of the challenges, his grit and determination were on full display when he pushed more sandbags in a mine cart than any other contestant (45 sandbags, weighing 1.8 tons).
Gibson quickly endeared himself to viewers with his nonstop effort and positive attitude. He went toe-to-toe with professional athletes and Olympians and ended up finishing in the top 8 out of 100 contestants. People online were calling him an uncrowned hero.
Last week, we had the chance to chat with Gibson. Let’s dive in and get to know Gibson Kim better!
We'd love to start with an intro! Could you please introduce yourself?
My name is Gibson Kim. I was born in Flushing, NY, but spent the majority of my childhood growing up in Korea, where I had 8 years of formal schooling. I moved back to the United States when I was 15 and graduated from Rutgers University.
I’m an active duty service member in the United States Army and am currently stationed in Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea along with my beautiful wife Savanna Kim, and our two wonderful children, 6-year-old son Oliver Kim , and 3-year-old daughter Rowan Kim. We have been living in Korea as a family since 2021 and we absolutely love it. The opportunity for my wife and I to connect with my family, my children to learn the Korean language and experience Korea, and all the amazing things we have been able to do here have been a blessing.
I’ve been consistently lifting since 2006 and have trained in many different styles, but strength training and powerlifting has been my focus for the past 7 years.
What was it like filming Physical 100? What were the biggest challenges and the most surprising things about the show?
It was an unforgettable experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I was very grateful to be given the opportunity to compete with some of the best athletes and most gifted individuals in Korea and I can honestly say that I gave 110% as far as my efforts are concerned to be the most competitive version of myself.
The biggest challenge was not knowing a lot of the other participants like who they are, what their specialties are, and what they are good or bad at. It added to the factor of unknown for me. While I realize that I just needed to do my best, knowing about my competition helps build confidence and I went in to the whole thing without much knowledge.
The most surprising thing about the show was the magnitude of staff, camera, equipment, the stage setting for the challenges, and the overall scale of it all. It was clear that an unbelievable amount of planning and work went into it and the logistical scope was incredible
What's life been like since Physical 100?
I’ve received tons of encouraging messages and compliments from people all over the world. The mine cart seems to have left a lasting impression to a lot of people and I’ve gained a lot of following on social media. Additionally, there has been numerous fun events I was able to be a part of as a result of being on the show and I’m grateful for every single moment.
What do you like to do for fun?
I’m a pretty simple person, but I like to lift, configure my home gym, and travel.
What are your favorite Asian snacks?
This is a tough one. Not because I have too many to choose from but I’m not a big snack person in general. But if I had to pick, I do love Korean popsicles. They bring back childhood memories for me.
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