Apolo Ohno
WA, US
Five-Time Olympic Medalist
Apolo Anton Ohno became the best short-track skater in the United States in less than two years, when he began his career in 1995. At fourteen years of age, after training under Pat Wentland in Lake Placid for just six months, Ohno claimed his first overall title at the U.S. Championships. He is now a five-time Olympic medalist, including two gold medals.
Apolo Anton Ohno competed in the Torino 2006 Olympics, winning one gold and two bronze medals. In Salt Lake City 2002 Olympics, he won both a gold and silver medal in short-track speed skating. Although Ohno did succeed as an Olympic medalist, his road to success wasn't easy.
Ohno's original success at fourteen made him a likely candidate to make the 1998 U.S. Olympic team, but he struggled with his fitness throughout the 1997-1998 season and finished 16th at the Olympic Trials. Ohno, then fifteen, came to a crossroads in his short-track career when he didn't make the 1998 U.S. Olympic team and needed to decide if he wanted to continue skating.
He committed himself to making the 2002 Olympic squad, and by the 2000-01 season he was one of the world's best skaters. The Seattle native won the World Cup title in the 500m, 1000m, and 1500m en route to winning the overall crown, which made him the first American to win a World Cup title at any distance.
Making the Olympic team in 2002, Ohno went on to win Olympic Gold in the 1500m and a silver in the 1000m. Four years, three World Cup overall titles later, Torino witnessed a stronger, leaner and poised Ohno gracefully capture two bronze medals (1000m and Relay) and his second Gold in the self-proclaimed "perfect race" in the 500m.
Ohno recently claimed another title as season three champion of the ABC hit, "Dancing with the Stars." After ten weeks of competing with his partner, International Latin Youth Champion, Julianne Hough in dances such as the Cha Cha, Tango and Waltz, Ohno and Hough beat out former 'N Sync member Joey Fatone and world female super middleweight boxing champion Laila Ali in the final Freestyle dance to bring home the gold.
"You put your mind to something, you give 100 percent, sacrifice and dedication, anything is possible."
At the podium, Ohno discusses his journey from a rambunctious and rule-breaking teenager to an Olympic gold medalist. His anecdotes are endearing and heart-felt, but also emphasize the importance of finding one's path, committing to it, and reaping the benefits of hard work.
At A Glance: His autobiography, entitled "A Journey: The Autobiography of Apolo Anton Ohno," written for young adults, offers readers a glimpse into the life of the youngest U.S. athlete to win a World Cup title. Ohno pays a tribute to his greatest influence - his father, and describes his road to success, including all the failures and setbacks which eventually brought him to any athlete's most coveted victory - an Olympic gold medal.
Apolo Anton Ohno competed in the Torino 2006 Olympics, winning one gold and two bronze medals. In Salt Lake City 2002 Olympics, he won both a gold and silver medal in short-track speed skating. Although Ohno did succeed as an Olympic medalist, his road to success wasn't easy.
Ohno's original success at fourteen made him a likely candidate to make the 1998 U.S. Olympic team, but he struggled with his fitness throughout the 1997-1998 season and finished 16th at the Olympic Trials. Ohno, then fifteen, came to a crossroads in his short-track career when he didn't make the 1998 U.S. Olympic team and needed to decide if he wanted to continue skating.
He committed himself to making the 2002 Olympic squad, and by the 2000-01 season he was one of the world's best skaters. The Seattle native won the World Cup title in the 500m, 1000m, and 1500m en route to winning the overall crown, which made him the first American to win a World Cup title at any distance.
Making the Olympic team in 2002, Ohno went on to win Olympic Gold in the 1500m and a silver in the 1000m. Four years, three World Cup overall titles later, Torino witnessed a stronger, leaner and poised Ohno gracefully capture two bronze medals (1000m and Relay) and his second Gold in the self-proclaimed "perfect race" in the 500m.
Ohno recently claimed another title as season three champion of the ABC hit, "Dancing with the Stars." After ten weeks of competing with his partner, International Latin Youth Champion, Julianne Hough in dances such as the Cha Cha, Tango and Waltz, Ohno and Hough beat out former 'N Sync member Joey Fatone and world female super middleweight boxing champion Laila Ali in the final Freestyle dance to bring home the gold.
"You put your mind to something, you give 100 percent, sacrifice and dedication, anything is possible."
At the podium, Ohno discusses his journey from a rambunctious and rule-breaking teenager to an Olympic gold medalist. His anecdotes are endearing and heart-felt, but also emphasize the importance of finding one's path, committing to it, and reaping the benefits of hard work.
At A Glance: His autobiography, entitled "A Journey: The Autobiography of Apolo Anton Ohno," written for young adults, offers readers a glimpse into the life of the youngest U.S. athlete to win a World Cup title. Ohno pays a tribute to his greatest influence - his father, and describes his road to success, including all the failures and setbacks which eventually brought him to any athlete's most coveted victory - an Olympic gold medal.
Apolo Anton Ohno became the best short-track skater in the United States in less than two years, when he began his career in 1995. At fourteen years of age, after training under Pat Wentland in Lake Placid for just six months, Ohno claimed his first overall title at the U.S. Championships. He is now a five-time Olympic medalist, including two gold medals.
Apolo Anton Ohno competed in the Torino 2006 Olympics, winning one gold and two bronze medals. In Salt Lake City 2002 Olympics, he won both a gold and silver medal in short-track speed skating. Although Ohno did succeed as an Olympic medalist, his road to success wasn't easy.
Ohno's original success at fourteen made him a likely candidate to make the 1998 U.S. Olympic team, but he struggled with his fitness throughout the 1997-1998 season and finished 16th at the Olympic Trials. Ohno, then fifteen, came to a crossroads in his short-track career when he didn't make the 1998 U.S. Olympic team and needed to decide if he wanted to continue skating.
He committed himself to making the 2002 Olympic squad, and by the 2000-01 season he was one of the world's best skaters. The Seattle native won the World Cup title in the 500m, 1000m, and 1500m en route to winning the overall crown, which made him the first American to win a World Cup title at any distance.
Making the Olympic team in 2002, Ohno went on to win Olympic Gold in the 1500m and a silver in the 1000m. Four years, three World Cup overall titles later, Torino witnessed a stronger, leaner and poised Ohno gracefully capture two bronze medals (1000m and Relay) and his second Gold in the self-proclaimed "perfect race" in the 500m.
Ohno recently claimed another title as season three champion of the ABC hit, "Dancing with the Stars." After ten weeks of competing with his partner, International Latin Youth Champion, Julianne Hough in dances such as the Cha Cha, Tango and Waltz, Ohno and Hough beat out former 'N Sync member Joey Fatone and world female super middleweight boxing champion Laila Ali in the final Freestyle dance to bring home the gold.
"You put your mind to something, you give 100 percent, sacrifice and dedication, anything is possible."
At the podium, Ohno discusses his journey from a rambunctious and rule-breaking teenager to an Olympic gold medalist. His anecdotes are endearing and heart-felt, but also emphasize the importance of finding one's path, committing to it, and reaping the benefits of hard work.
At A Glance: His autobiography, entitled "A Journey: The Autobiography of Apolo Anton Ohno," written for young adults, offers readers a glimpse into the life of the youngest U.S. athlete to win a World Cup title. Ohno pays a tribute to his greatest influence - his father, and describes his road to success, including all the failures and setbacks which eventually brought him to any athlete's most coveted victory - an Olympic gold medal.
Apolo Anton Ohno competed in the Torino 2006 Olympics, winning one gold and two bronze medals. In Salt Lake City 2002 Olympics, he won both a gold and silver medal in short-track speed skating. Although Ohno did succeed as an Olympic medalist, his road to success wasn't easy.
Ohno's original success at fourteen made him a likely candidate to make the 1998 U.S. Olympic team, but he struggled with his fitness throughout the 1997-1998 season and finished 16th at the Olympic Trials. Ohno, then fifteen, came to a crossroads in his short-track career when he didn't make the 1998 U.S. Olympic team and needed to decide if he wanted to continue skating.
He committed himself to making the 2002 Olympic squad, and by the 2000-01 season he was one of the world's best skaters. The Seattle native won the World Cup title in the 500m, 1000m, and 1500m en route to winning the overall crown, which made him the first American to win a World Cup title at any distance.
Making the Olympic team in 2002, Ohno went on to win Olympic Gold in the 1500m and a silver in the 1000m. Four years, three World Cup overall titles later, Torino witnessed a stronger, leaner and poised Ohno gracefully capture two bronze medals (1000m and Relay) and his second Gold in the self-proclaimed "perfect race" in the 500m.
Ohno recently claimed another title as season three champion of the ABC hit, "Dancing with the Stars." After ten weeks of competing with his partner, International Latin Youth Champion, Julianne Hough in dances such as the Cha Cha, Tango and Waltz, Ohno and Hough beat out former 'N Sync member Joey Fatone and world female super middleweight boxing champion Laila Ali in the final Freestyle dance to bring home the gold.
"You put your mind to something, you give 100 percent, sacrifice and dedication, anything is possible."
At the podium, Ohno discusses his journey from a rambunctious and rule-breaking teenager to an Olympic gold medalist. His anecdotes are endearing and heart-felt, but also emphasize the importance of finding one's path, committing to it, and reaping the benefits of hard work.
At A Glance: His autobiography, entitled "A Journey: The Autobiography of Apolo Anton Ohno," written for young adults, offers readers a glimpse into the life of the youngest U.S. athlete to win a World Cup title. Ohno pays a tribute to his greatest influence - his father, and describes his road to success, including all the failures and setbacks which eventually brought him to any athlete's most coveted victory - an Olympic gold medal.
2019