Apolo Ohno facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Apolo Anton Ohno

Ohno at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin
Personal information
Born	(1982-05-22) May 22, 1982 (age 43) Seattle, Washington, US
Height	5 ft 8 in
Weight	65.7 kg (145 lb; 10 st 5 lb)
Sport
Country	United States of America
Sport	Short track speed skating
Retired	2010
Achievements and titles
World finals	World Championship 2008 Overall World Cup 2001 Overall 2003 Overall 2005 Overall
Personal best(s)	500 m: 41.327 (2009) 1000 m: 1:24.500 (2009) 1500 m: 2:11.280 (2003) 3000 m: 4:32.975 (2003)
Medal record Men's short track speed skating Representing the  United States Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 2 2 4 World Championships 8 7 6 World Team Championships 1 0 1 Olympic Games Gold 2002 Salt Lake City 1500 m Gold 2006 Turin 500 m Silver 2002 Salt Lake City 1000 m Silver 2010 Vancouver 1500 m Bronze 2006 Turin 1000 m Bronze 2006 Turin 5000 m relay Bronze 2010 Vancouver 1000 m Bronze 2010 Vancouver 5000 m relay World Championships Gold 2001 Jeonju 3000 m Gold 2001 Jeonju 5000 m relay Gold 2005 Beijing 1000 m Gold 2005 Beijing 3000 m Gold 2007 Milan 1500 m Gold 2008 Gangneung Overall Gold 2008 Gangneung 500 m Gold 2009 Vienna 5000 m relay Silver 1999 Sofia 500 m Silver 2001 Jeonju Overall Silver 2001 Jeonju 1000 m Silver 2003 Warsaw 3000 m Silver 2005 Beijing Overall Silver 2008 Gangneung 1000 m Silver 2009 Vienna 1000 m Bronze 2005 Beijing 5000 m relay Bronze 2007 Milan Overall Bronze 2007 Milan 1000 m Bronze 2007 Milan 3000 m Bronze 2007 Milan 5000 m relay Bronze 2008 Gangneung 3000 m World Team Championships Gold 2008 Harbin Team Bronze 2009 Heerenveen Team World Junior Championships Gold 1999 Montreal Overall

Apolo Anton Ohno (born May 22, 1982) is an American retired short track speed skating champion. He won eight medals at the Winter Olympics, including two gold medals. Ohno is the most decorated American athlete in Winter Olympic history. He was added to the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2017 and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2019.

Apolo was raised by his father. He started training full-time in 1996. At 14, he became the youngest U.S. national champion in 1997. He won this title 12 times between 2001 and 2009. In December 1999, he became the youngest skater to win a World Cup event. He was also the first American to win a World Cup overall title in 2001. He won it again in 2003 and 2005. Ohno became very famous in the United States after winning medals at the 2002 Winter Olympics. He won his first overall World Championship title in 2008.

Ohno has received many awards. These include the United States Olympic Committee's Male Athlete of the Month. He was also U.S. Speedskating's Athlete of the Year in 2003. He was a finalist for the James E. Sullivan Award, which honors the best amateur athlete in the U.S.

After his skating career, Ohno became a motivational speaker. He also worked as a philanthropist and started a business. In 2007, he won the TV show Dancing with the Stars. Later, Ohno hosted Minute to Win It on Game Show Network. He was also a commentator for NBC's coverage of the 2014 and 2018 Winter Games. He has also been an entrepreneur in health and technology.

Early Life and Training

Ohno was born in Seattle, Washington. His father, Yuki Ohno, was born in Japan. His mother was European-American. Apolo was raised by his father in Seattle. His father, a hair stylist, worked long hours. He wanted to keep Apolo busy and active.

When Apolo was young, his father got him involved in sports. At age 6, he started competitive swimming and roller skating. He became a national inline speedskating champion. His father used inline skating to fill Apolo's free time. Apolo's days were full of morning swimming, school, and afternoon skating.

Skating Career Highlights

Starting Out in Short Track

When he was 13, Ohno became interested in short track speed skating. He saw the sport during the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer. His father helped him go to short track competitions. Ohno won many events for his age group. To help him improve, his father got him into the Lake Placid Olympic Training Center in 1996. Apolo was only 13, the youngest skater there.

At first, Ohno didn't train very hard. His teammates nicknamed him "Chunky," which made him want to work harder. In 1997, he won the U.S. Senior Championships. He took a gold medal in the 1500 m race. At 14, he was the youngest person to win this title. He then moved to the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center.

Ohno struggled at the 1997 World Championships in Japan. He finished 19th overall. After this, he returned home and didn't train for several months. He didn't qualify for the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics team. Because of these setbacks, Ohno decided to train harder. He returned to junior-level skating at Lake Placid.

At the 1999 World Junior Championships, Ohno won first place overall. He won gold in the 1000 m and 1500 m. He also won a silver in the 500 m. He won his second U.S. national championship in 1999. In the 2000–2001 season, Ohno won his first World Cup overall title. He also finished second overall in the World Championships.

2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City

The skates Ohno wore at the 2002 Winter Olympics are preserved in the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History.

Ohno in Seattle, Washington, shortly after the 2002 Winter Olympics

At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, Ohno became very popular. He won two medals, but there was some discussion about the results.

In the 1000 m race, Ohno was leading near the end. Several skaters, including Ohno, fell in a collision. Steven Bradbury from Australia, who was behind, skated past to win the gold. Ohno quickly got up and crossed the finish line for a silver medal.

In the 1500 m final, Ohno was in second place. He tried to pass Kim Dong-Sung of South Korea. Kim moved to the inside, and Ohno raised his arms, suggesting he was blocked. Kim finished first, but the referee disqualified him for blocking. This gave the gold medal to Ohno. The South Korean team protested, but the decision stood.

After Salt Lake City

Ohno continued to do well after the 2002 Olympics. He won his World Cup title again in 2003 and 2005.

Ohno in the lead during a 500 m short-track race at the 2004 World Cup in Saguenay.

At a 2005 World Cup event in China, Ohno sprained his ankle. At the next event in South Korea, police guarded Ohno. This was due to strong feelings from the 2002 Olympic disqualification. Ohno won two gold medals there and was surprised by the cheering crowd. He said he was happy it wasn't hostile. He finished third in the 2005–2006 World Cup standings. At the 2005 World Championships, he finished second overall.

2006 Winter Olympics in Turin

In the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, Ohno had a tough start. He stumbled in a semifinal heat for the 1500 m and couldn't defend his gold medal. He then won a bronze medal in the 1000 m race.

Ohno won gold in the 500 m. He got a great start and kept the lead. Some thought he moved too early, but officials allowed the start. Ohno said he timed it perfectly.

On the same day, he won a bronze medal in the men's 5000 m relay. He made a smart pass on the last lap to get the U.S. team into third place. After the race, the winning South Korean team and the Americans shared a friendly moment.

Break and Return to Skating

Ohno took a year off after the 2006 Olympics. He returned to win his eighth national title in 2007. He won every event at the U.S. Championships. In April 2007, he was inducted into the Asian Hall of Fame.

In March 2007, he competed at the 2007 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Milan, Italy. He won gold in the 1500 m. He also won bronze in the 1000 m, 3000 m, and the 5000 m relay. This made him the overall bronze medalist.

In December 2007, Ohno won his ninth national title. At the 2008 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in South Korea, Ohno won his first overall world title. He won first in the 500 m and second in the 1000 m. He was booed at first, but his good skating earned him applause.

In 2009, he won his 10th national title. He finished fifth overall at the 2009 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships. He placed second in the 1000 m and won gold with the 5000 m relay team.

2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver

Closing ceremony press conference at the 2010 Winter Olympics featuring Angela Ruggiero, Ohno, Lindsey Vonn and Bill Demong.

For the 2010 Winter Olympics, Ohno trained very hard. He lost a lot of weight and became very fit. He said he wanted to be the fittest skater there.

Olympic Trials

During the U.S. Olympic Trials in September 2009, Ohno won the overall title. He won the 500 m, 1000 m, and 1500 m races. He said the team chosen for the Olympics was the strongest ever.

Olympic Games

In the 1500 m final, Ohno finished second. Two Korean skaters crashed, allowing him to move up. He earned a silver medal. This brought his total to six Olympic medals, tying Bonnie Blair's record.

In the 1000 m final, Ohno won a bronze medal. He recovered from a slip near the end of the race. With this medal, he became the most decorated American Winter Olympian with seven medals.

In the 500 m final, Ohno finished second. However, he was disqualified for blocking another skater.

The 5000 m relay team won a bronze medal. Ohno, as the final skater, passed the Chinese team to secure third place. This bronze medal was his eighth Olympic medal.

Sponsorships and Support

In 2010, Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with Shani Davis (left) and Ohno for a scholarship program for Olympic athletes.

Ohno became very famous, which helped him get sponsors. These included companies like McDonald's and Coca-Cola. His father said that sponsorships were important for Apolo to pay his bills, as speed skaters don't have large team contracts. Alaska Airlines was a main sponsor for the 2010 Winter Games. They even put his picture on a Boeing 737-800 jet.

Ohno has spoken about the need for more support for athletes. He noted that sponsors often only focus on gold medalists. He also commented on a donation from The Colbert Report to U.S. Speedskating. He was proud of the show's host, Stephen Colbert, for helping the athletes.

Legacy and Retirement

Ohno is known for making short track speed skating popular in the U.S. He enjoys being a role model for younger skaters. After the 2010 Winter Games, he started the Apolo Anton Ohno Foundation. He also worked with the Century Council to promote healthy living.

Retirement from Skating

Ohno speaking at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games.

Ohno retired after the 2010 Olympics. He became a commentator for NBC during the 2014 and 2018 Winter Games. In 2014, he sponsored a speedskating race in Salt Lake City. He has also appeared on many TV shows.

In 2019, he was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. He also announced he is writing a book. The book will share his journey from Olympic athlete to entrepreneur. It will talk about life after competing at the highest level.

Activism and Charity Work

Ohno has supported many good causes. He joined Product Red to help fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. He also worked with The Salvation Army and other charities. He helped raise money for a Ronald McDonald House in Seattle. He also helped raise funds for Japanese elders in the Pacific Northwest.

Ohno also worked with Senator Ted Kennedy to promote math and science education. He has volunteered with the Special Olympics. He took part in Unified Sports, which brings together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities. He was a Global Ambassador for the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

Television and Entertainment Career

Ohno at the movie premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean 3.

Ohno has always been interested in entertainment. He won the fourth season of Dancing with the Stars with his partner Julianne Hough. He returned for the 15th season, which featured all-star celebrities. Ohno's interest in fashion led him to be a guest judge on Project Runway. He also had a deal with Omega watches. He hosted the GSN show Minute to Win It in 2013.

Dancing with the Stars Appearances

Season 4 (with Julianne Hough)

Ohno and his partner Julianne Hough first appeared on Dancing with the Stars on March 19, 2007. They earned the show's first perfect score of 30 for their samba routine. They were crowned the champions on May 22, 2007.

Season 15 (with Karina Smirnoff)

In July 2012, Ohno returned for the fifteenth season, an All-Star season. He was paired with Karina Smirnoff. They were voted off during the ninth week of the competition.

Other TV Appearances

Ohno has appeared on many TV shows as a guest, actor, and host. He was on Hawaii Five-0 and The Biggest Loser. He also appeared on Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris and Hollywood Game Night. He was even on the Nick Jr. series Ryan's Mystery Playdate.

In 2012, he was on the CBS show I Get That a Lot. In 2013, Ohno played "Stone" in the movie Tasmanian Devils. He also hosted Minute to Win It on GSN. In 2016, he was a guest star on Superstore. In 2017, Ohno hosted the second season of Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge. He also appeared on The $100,000 Pyramid.

In 2021, Ohno was a contestant on the NBC game show The Wall. He played to raise money for the Team USA Fund.

Business Ventures

After retiring from skating, Ohno started traveling for business. He works in manufacturing, technology, and health supplements. He invested in a company called Oura Health. He is also a co-founder of Allysian Sciences, a health and supplement company. Ohno studied business at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

See also

In Spanish: Apolo Ohno para niños