Jonathan So

Jonathan So was born on May 5, 2002, in Fairfax, Virginia. He later established Reston, VA, as his hometown. From an early age, he showed a strong aptitude for speedskating. His career progression includes becoming a member of the Short Track National Team for the 2018-19 and 2022-26 seasons, demonstrating sustained commitment and performance in the sport. His early career also saw him compete in the 2018 and 2020 Short Track Junior World Championship Teams, laying the foundation for his future successes.

Throughout his career, So has achieved several notable milestones. In 2020, he earned a gold medal at the Winter Youth Olympics in the 3,000 meters Relay, Mixed Youth event, competing as part of Team B. This early international success highlighted his potential. He also placed 4th in the 1,000 meters, Boys event at the same games. His junior career included a 4th place finish in the 3000m Relay and 15th in the 1000m at the 2020 World Junior Championships. In 2024, So competed in the World Championships, where his team placed 10th in the 5000m Relay.

So continued to develop his skills, drawing inspiration from notable figures in speedskating such as J.R. Celski and Thomas Hong. He attributes much of his growth to Celski, who he watched as a hero on television, and Hong, a skater he knew since childhood and later became teammates with. So attended Salt Lake Community College, balancing his academic pursuits with his demanding training schedule.