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Summary

"Apolo Anton Ohno" (born on May 22, 1982) is an American short track speed skating competitor and a two-time gold medalist in the Winter Olympics. He also competed in and won the reality TV show, "Dancing with the Stars" in 2007.

Ohno has won five Olympic medals over his career, and is one of only four Americans who have won three medals in a single Winter Olympics game. He has been the reigning U.S. short track speed skating champion since 2001, and has won the U.S. men's title a total of eight times.

Early life

Ohno was born in Federal Way, Washington (a suburb of Seattle), to his white mother Jerrie Lee and Japanese father, Yuki Ohno. He has one older half-brother.Price, S.L. (2002). ('Launch of Apolo ') SI.com (accessed May 24, 2007) His parents were divorced when Ohno was still a baby, and he was subsequently raised alone by his father.

Ohno's father, a high-fashion hair stylist and owner of the salon Yuki's Diffusion, often worked twelve hour shifts, and with no family in the States, often found it hard to balance career and family. Apolo spent much of his early childhood between the salon and day care.

As he got older, he began to get involved in mischief and even petty delinquency. His father, concerned with a young Ohno's 'free time,' involved him in competitive swimming and in-line skating, and at 13 "Sports Illustrated for Kids" named him 'Hotshot' for his skating. Despite the younger Ohno's athletic talent, he still was becoming increasingly more unruly, hanging out with older teenagers, and even twenty-somethings. Ohno's father searched for something to occupy his son.

Career

Early career

When he was 14 years old, Apolo became interested in short-track after seeing it on television.Claiborned, Ron (2002). ('Apolo Ohno Has a Single Father Behind His Success') ABCNews.com (accessed May 31, 2007) Capitalizing on this, his father drove him to meets throughout the Northwest US and Canada, and Apolo won several awards in his age divisions. However, it wasn't enough to keep Apolo from running with a rough crowd - people involved with drugs, theft and even violence.Parrish, Paula (2001). ('Oh yes, it's Ohno') SHNS.com (accessed May 31, 2007) Desperate, his father successfully pleaded for Apolo to be admitted into the Lake Placid Olympic Training Center to train full-time for short track, despite being too young (the center has a 15-year-old minimum age requirement). Apolo didn't go to the Center, instead ditching the flight and disappearing with a friend for a week while making taunting calls to his father without revealing where he was. His father's pleas for him to come home, coupled with a long talk with his aunt, persuaded Apolo to return.

Eventually he made it to Lake Placid, as Ohno's father accompanied his reluctant son to the airport and ensured his departure. Despite conceding, Ohno's commitment to the program was low, until his teammates nicknamed him 'Chunky,' sparking him to train harder. In 1997, when Ohno was still only 14 years old, he became the youngest ever U.S. short-track speed skating champion. However, upon returning home to Seattle, he returned to his former ways, and soon found himself overweight and under-trained. In the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, he finished last in the trials. He was devastated, and his coach doubted he would return to Lake Placid. His father, in a last ditch effort, drove his son to a remote cabin in Iron Springs, Washington, told him to think about speed-skating and what he would do with his life, and left him there for eight days (with sufficient provisions). Angry and confused, Ohno began running until blistered in the pouring rain. It was then that he realized that unless he straightened up, he would end up jail bound (or dead) like his friends. The realization began his commitment to skating and dominance in the sport.

Four years later, Ohno was the first American to be the overall World Cup champion during the 2000-01 season and qualified for the U.S. team in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

2002 Winter Olympics

Olympic qualification race controversy

In December of 2001, Shani Davis traveled to Utah to race for a spot on the 2002 Winter Olympics short track team. Teammates Ohno and Rusty Smith already had slots on the six-man team due to points earned from earlier races, and Ron Biondo was a lock for the third spot. In order for Davis to qualify, he would have to actually "win" the final race. As both Ohno and Smith were also participating, Davis would have to beat them both. Since Ohno had been dominant in the meet to this point, winning every race he entered with ease, a win by Davis seemed to be a long shot. Davis held the American record in this distance and had been a very strong candidate for performing well in this last chance.

However, the 1,000m race would end with Ohno coming in third, Smith second and Davis at the top of the podium. Davis's first place finish earned him enough points to move past Tommy O'Hare in the final point standings and to qualify for sixth place. However, the victory celebration was short-lived, as rumors began to swirl that Ohno and Smith, both good friends of Davis's, intentionally threw the race so that Davis would win. After returning to Colorado Springs, O'Hare would file a formal complaint. For three days, Ohno, Smith and Davis stood before an arbitration panel as the United States Olympic Commitee.

Ohno would later confess that he subconsciously held back for fear of suddenly crashing into Davis or Smith, a common occurrence in the sport, pointing out that he didn't need to win the race because he already had a spot on the team. Both claims went unproven in the arbitration case, and all three were absolved of guilt.

On February 13, 2002 "Sports Illustrated" writer Brian Cazeneuve published an article stating that, after reviewing the race, 'To this day, there is no concrete proof that any skaters violated the spirit of competition.'Cazeneuve, Brian (2002). ('More on the great short-track speed skating controversy') SportsIllustrated.CNN.com (accessed May 30, 2007) Cazeneuve would, however, also publish the comments of Outside Life Network commentator Todd Harris and 1998 Winter Olympian speed skater Eric Flaim, which were made during the broadcast of the race; both men agreed that Ohno and Smith hadn't skated at 100% because they both did not need additional points to make the 2002 Olympic Team. In a sport as dangerous as Short Track it is indeed understood that these athletes were protecting themselves from a chance of injury.

The Games

In Salt Lake City, Utah, Ohno emerged as a popular athlete among US fans, for reportedly charming them with his cheerful attitude and laid-back style. He became the face of short track speed skating in the US, which was a relatively new and unknown sport at the time, and carried the medal hopes of America in that sport. Ohno medaled in two events, although there was some controversy associated with the results.

In the 1000 m race, Ohno was leading the pack, however during a turn around the final corner, fellow skater Ahn Hyun Soo triggered a massive wipe out, taking himself, Ohno, Mathieu Turcotte and Li Jiajun into the barriers. The single man standing was Steven Bradbury, from Australia, who was trailing behind at the time, and skated through to win the gold medal, becoming the first person from the southern hemisphere to win a gold medal at a Winter Olympics. Ohno quickly got to his feet and crossed the finish line to win silver.twice

In the 1500 m race, Ohno won the gold medal, with a time of 2:18.541. During the 1500 m final race, South Korean Kim Dong-Sung was first across the finish line, but was disqualified for blocking Ohno, in what is called cross tracking. The result reportedly upset many in South Korea, which included crashing the International Olympic Committee's e-mail account and thousands of accusatory letters, many of which were death threats, and a song of negative statements about Ohno was made by Yun Min-Seok.

After Salt Lake

Ohno continued to perform well in the sport after the 2002 Winter Games. Ohno declined to participate in a 2003 World Cup short track event in Korea for security reasons. However, despite the absence, he still successfully defended his World Cup title during the 2002-03 season. In 2005, an estimated 100 riot police stood guard at Incheon International Airport to prevent any harm from coming to Ohno when he went to South Korea for the second World Cup meet. Ohno won two gold medals, as well as the overall title at the meet.

His participation in this World Cup despite option to not compete gave him the appraise and respect of the Korean People. After competing while very sick (losing 12 pounds over 3 days) Apolo Ohno was able to overcome odds again and win the Korean publics hearts. Upon departing Seoul, Korea he was greeted again by the Korean Speed Skating Association President and Vice President. Upon departure, they informed Ohno that he was the focus of many Korean fans and in fact may have changed the thoughts of thousands of Korean people.

2006 Winter Olympics

In the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, Ohno stumbled during a semifinal heat in the 1500 m. Finishing fifth, he was unable to defend his 2002 gold medal in the event. However, Ohno was able to win the bronze medal in the 1000 m, with Ahn Hyun Soo and Lee Ho-suk finishing before him.

After two false starts from other skaters, Ohno won gold in the 500 m when he took the lead with an explosive start and held it until the finish. Despite criticism that Ohno appeared to move before the start, a violation of the rules, the race start was validated by the officials, allowing Ohno to keep his gold.

On the same day as his 500 m gold win, Ohno earned a bronze medal in the men's 5000 m relay, with an inside pass on Italian skater Nicola Rodigari on the final leg to put the United States in third position. Later, during the medals ceremony for the event, the winning South Korean team and the Americans embraced, followed by a group picture featuring the medalists.

Post-Olympic hiatus and return

Taking a year off from competitive skating when the 2006 Winter Olympics ended, Ohno returned to win his eighth U.S. National Title, placing first in every event held during the U.S. Championships from February 23 to February 25, 2007.

From March 9 to March 11 2007, he skated at the World Championships held in Milan, Italy, winning gold in the 1500 m due to the disqualification of Song Kyung-Taek, who had blocked a passing attempt made by Ohno. He also won bronze in the 1000 m, 3000 m, and the 5000 m relay with teammates, Jordan Malone, Travis Jayner, and Ryan Bedford. Because of his wins, he became the overall bronze medalist, behind medalists Charles Hamelin, who won silver, and Ahn Hyun Soo, who became the first man to be a five-time World Champion.

2010 Winter Olympics

Ohno announced on 'Rick Dees in the Morning' on April 23, 2007, that he will be competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics. He had said previously that he was 'leaning towards' trying for his third Olympics games, commenting, 'I feel like I've been blessed with a gift... And if I'm still able, willing and healthy, then why would I throw that away?'

"Dancing with the Stars"

On February 20, 2007, the ABC television network announced that Ohno would be a participant on the fourth season of the "Dancing with the Stars" reality show. He was paired with dancing partner Julianne Hough, and both appeared on the show for the first time on March 19, 2007. Ohno and Hough received the first perfect score of 30 of the competition for their samba on April 16, 2007.

In Week One, Ohno danced the Cha Cha Cha. By receiving a score of 21/30 (7,7,7), he placed third for the night. On Week two, Ohno danced the Quickstep, and was second, having a 26/30 (8,9,9). On Week three, Ohno danced the Jive, and was second that night with a score of 23/30 (7,8,8). On Week five, Ohno danced the Samba, and came in first by getting a perfect score of 30/30. According to him, this was Hough's favorite dance, and he wanted to make it special for her by doing his best. On Week six, Ohno danced the Rumba, and was first with a 28/30 (9,9,10). On Week seven, Ohno danced the Foxtrot and Mambo. He received a score of 26/30 (9,8,9) on the foxtrot, and a 28/30 (9,9,10) on his Mambo.

On Week 8, On May 7, 2007, Ohno danced the Tango and Paso Doble. He got a 28/30 (10,8,10) on the Tango, and a 30/30 on his Paso Doble, putting him and Hough in first place. Controversy arose when the post-tango interviewer, Samantha Harris, announced that judge Carrie Ann Inaba had actually keyed a '9' score into her computer, but had mistakenly held up the '10' paddle. Therefore, she said, Ohno's actual score was 27. Judge Inaba insisted that she had keyed a '10' into her computer. During the commercial break, the producers and judges confirmed that Inaba's computer had erroneously recorded her '10' score as a '9.' When this was corrected, Ohno's official score for the tango was recorded as a 28. On May 14, they had a 59 as a total score.

During the semifinals, he chose the Quickstep and Cha Cha Cha, because these were his first two dances that he had done in the competition. By doing these two dances, he intended to show his progression from the beginning of the competition. He received a 30 on the Quickstep, and a 29 on the Cha Cha Cha. In the Finals, the judges chose a Rumba for him, a he earned a score of 28. It was followed by a freestyle, which got him a 30, which took him from second place to first. On the day of the Results Show for the finals, Ohno and Hough had to do a previously choreographed dance. The couple chose their Paso Doble in which they had previously received a score of 30. This dance again received a score of 30, keeping the couple at the top spot.

Upon reaching the final round, alongside Laila Ali and Joey Fatone, Ohno and Hough performed a newly-choroegraphed rumba, a breakdancing/hip hop-esque freestyle dance, and their Paso Doble routine from earlier in the season, gaining a total score of 88 out of 90, the top spot on the judges' scoreboard. At the finale, falling on Ohno's twenty-fifth birthday, the pair received a perfect 30 on their reprise of their Paso Doble, and Ohno and Hough were named the winners of "Dancing With the Stars" Season 4.

Personal life

Ohno and Shani Davis are best friends, and Davis visited the set of "Dancing with the Stars" on the night Ohno won.

For two years, Ohno dated speed skater Allison Baver,The Associated Press (2006). ('No break for Ohno, Baver on Valentine's Day') MSNBC.com (accessed May 29, 2007) but the couple broke up in mid-2006.

Selected events

On April 26, 2007, Ohno was inducted into the Asian Hall of Fame, an award given to 'Asian Americans who have contributed to their heritage by breaking new ground or achieving excellence in their fields at both a national and international level.'Park, Yoon S. (2007). ('Ohno's excellent on & off the ice') NWAsianWeekly.com (accessed May 7, 2007)Davila, Florangela (2007). ('Asian Hall of Fame inducts Olympian Ohno') Seattle Times (accessed May 7, 2007)

Bibliography

Ohno, Apolo Anton; Richardson, Nancy Ann. "A Journey: the autobiography of Apolo Anton Ohno", New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2002. ISBN 0689856083.

Lang, Thomas. "Going for the gold: Apolo Anton Ohno: Skating on the edge", New York: Avon Books, 2002. ISBN 006051843X (pbk).

External links

" (Official Site) "

" (Official U.S. Olympic Team Biography) "

http://www.gotapolo.com/

http://www.ohnozone.net/

http://abc.go.com/primetime/dancingwiththestars/index

Credit

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article about Apolo Anton Ohno.