Kristi Yamaguchi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kristi Yamaguchi
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Yamaguchi in 2016
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| Born | July 12, 1971 Fremont, California, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Alberta (BA) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Organization | Always Dream Foundation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Notable work
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Dream Big, Little Pig! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse(s) |
Bret Hedican
(m. 2000) |
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| Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Kristi Yamaguchi (born July 12, 1971) is a famous American former figure skater. She is also an author and a philanthropist, which means she helps others through charity work.
Kristi is best known for winning the gold medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics. She was also a two-time World champion in 1991 and 1992. In 1992, she made history as the first Asian American woman to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics.
Before focusing on singles skating, Kristi was also a successful pairs skater with Rudy Galindo. Together, they won the World Junior championship in 1988. They also won two national championships in 1989 and 1990.
After she stopped competing in 1992, Kristi performed in many ice shows. She also won the World Professional Figure Skating Championships four times. In 2008, she won the TV show Dancing with the Stars. Kristi has written five books, including Dream Big, Little Pig!, which became a best-seller.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Kristi Yamaguchi was born on July 12, 1971, in Hayward, California. Her father, Jim, was a dentist, and her mother, Carole, was a medical secretary. Kristi is a third-generation Japanese American. Her grandparents and great-grandparents came to the United States from Japan.
During World War II, Kristi's grandparents were sent to special camps for Japanese Americans. Her mother was born in one of these camps. Kristi grew up in Fremont, California, with her brother Brett and sister Lori. She was homeschooled for part of high school to make time for her skating practice. Later, she attended Mission San Jose High School and graduated from there.
Starting Her Skating Journey
Kristi was born with a condition called clubfoot, which affected her feet. She wore special casts and braces for her first year. When she was about four or five years old, she started skating as a way to help her feet get stronger. She was inspired after watching famous skaters like Peggy Fleming and Dorothy Hamill.
Skating became a big part of her life. From sixth grade on, Kristi would practice early in the morning, from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., before school. Her mother would drive her to the rink very early and wait for her. She also traveled with Kristi to competitions several times a month.
Competitive Skating Career
Skating with a Partner
In 1986, Kristi won a junior title in pairs skating with her partner, Rudy Galindo. They were a unique team because both of them were also very good singles skaters. This allowed them to do difficult moves together, like side-by-side triple flip jumps. They also spun and jumped in opposite directions, which looked cool on the ice.
In 1988, Kristi and Rudy won both the singles and pairs titles at the World Junior Figure Skating Championships. They continued their success, winning the senior pairs title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in both 1989 and 1990. In 1990, Kristi decided to focus only on her singles career. Rudy Galindo also went on to have a successful singles career.
Becoming a Singles Champion
First Big Wins
Kristi won her first major international gold medal in singles skating at the 1990 Goodwill Games. This was a big step in her career.
World Champion
In 1991, Kristi moved to Edmonton, Alberta, to train with coach Christy Ness. She also took psychology classes at the University of Alberta. That year, she won her first World Championship in Munich, Germany. The American women's team, including Kristi, Tonya Harding, and Nancy Kerrigan, swept the podium, winning all three medals. This was a rare achievement in figure skating.
Olympic Gold
In 1992, Kristi won her first U.S. national title, which earned her a spot on the U.S. Olympic team for the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. Other skaters like Tonya Harding and Midori Ito were trying difficult triple Axel jumps. Kristi, however, focused on her artistic performance and doing strong triple-triple jump combinations.
At the Olympics, Kristi won the gold medal. Even with a few small errors in her free program, her overall performance and artistry helped her win. She later said her mindset was to "just do your best and forget the rest." After the Olympics, Kristi successfully defended her World title, winning her second World Championship.
Professional Skating and Other Achievements
After her amazing 1991–92 season, Kristi decided to become a professional skater. She started competing in professional events and quickly found success. She won her first professional world title at the World Professional Figure Skating Championships in December 1992. She went on to win this title four times (in 1992, 1994, 1996, and 1997).
Kristi also toured for more than ten years with "Stars On Ice," a popular ice show. She worked with many choreographers to create new and exciting programs each year. She enjoyed trying to "stay innovative and bring something new to the ice every year."
Kristi has received many awards for her achievements. She was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2008, she won the sixth season of Dancing with the Stars, showing her talent beyond the ice. She has also received the Flo Hyman Award and the Jesse Owens Olympic Spirit Award.
Author and Philanthropist
Kristi is also a successful author. She has published five books. Her children's book, Dream Big, Little Pig!, was a big hit and appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list. She received the Gelett Burgess Children's Book Award for it.
Kristi is also a dedicated philanthropist. She founded the Always Dream Foundation, which focuses on early childhood literacy. This foundation helps children learn to read and provides books to those who need them.
Personal Life
On July 8, 2000, Kristi Yamaguchi married Bret Hedican, a professional ice hockey player. They met at the 1992 Winter Olympics. They lived in Raleigh, North Carolina, where Bret played for the Carolina Hurricanes and won the Stanley Cup in 2006. They now live in Alamo, California, with their two daughters.
Images for kids
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Kristi Yamaguchi's figure skates at the Museum of American History
See also
In Spanish: Kristi Yamaguchi para niños
