Kristi Yamaguchi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kristi Yamaguchi
Yamaguchi in 2016
Born	(1971-07-12) July 12, 1971 (age 53) Fremont, California, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Alberta (BA)
Occupation	Figure skater Author Philanthropist
Organization	Always Dream Foundation
Notable work	Dream Big, Little Pig!
Spouse(s)	Bret Hedican ​ (m. 2000)​
Children	2
Kristi Yamaguchi Personal information Height 4 ft 11.5 in Former partner Rudy Galindo Former coach Christy Ness Former choreographer Sandra Bezic Skating club St. Moritz ISC Retired 1992 Medal record Representing the  United States Ladies' figure skating Olympic Games Gold 1992 Albertville Ladies' singles World Championships Gold 1991 Munich Ladies' singles Gold 1992 Oakland Ladies' singles World Junior Championships Gold 1988 Brisbane Ladies' singles Pairs' figure skating World Junior Championships Gold 1988 Brisbane Pairs Bronze 1987 Kitchener Pairs

Kristi Yamaguchi (born July 12, 1971) is a famous American figure skater. She won a gold medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics. Kristi is also a two-time World champion in figure skating (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 her partner Rudy Galindo, she won the 1988 World Junior Championship. After retiring from competitive skating 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 is also an author and has written several books. Her book Dream Big, Little Pig! became a New York Times best-seller.

Kristi Yamaguchi's Early Life

Kristi Yamaguchi was born on July 12, 1971, in Hayward, California. Her parents are Jim and Carole Yamaguchi. Kristi is a third-generation Japanese American, meaning her grandparents came to the United States from Japan. During World War II, her grandparents were sent to internment camps. Her mother was born in one of these camps.

Kristi grew up in Fremont, California, with her brother Brett and sister Lori. To make time for her skating practice, Kristi was home-schooled for two years of high school. She later attended and graduated from Mission San Jose High School.

Kristi's Skating Journey

Starting to Skate

Kristi was born with a condition called clubfoot, which affected her feet. She wore special casts and shoes for a long time as a baby. She started skating when she was 4 or 5 years old as a way to help her feet get stronger. She was inspired after watching famous skaters like Peggy Fleming.

From sixth grade onwards, Kristi practiced skating early in the morning. She would wake up at 4 a.m. and skate until 10 a.m. before school. Her mother often drove her to the rink and waited for her.

Pairs Skating Success

In 1986, Kristi won a junior title with her pairs partner, Rudy Galindo. They were a unique team because both were excellent singles skaters. This allowed them to do difficult moves together, like side-by-side triple jumps.

In 1988, Kristi won two titles at the World Junior Figure Skating Championships. She won the singles title and also the pairs title with Rudy Galindo. They went on to win the senior pairs title at the U.S. Championships in both 1989 and 1990. In 1990, Kristi decided to focus only on singles skating.

Singles Skating Highlights

Kristi Yamaguchi on an Azerbaijani postage stamp

Winning Gold at Goodwill Games

Kristi won her first big international gold medal in singles skating at the 1990 Goodwill Games. This was a major step in her career.

Becoming a World Champion

In 1991, Kristi moved to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to train with coach Christy Ness. That same 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 that year. This means they won all three medals (gold, silver, and bronze).

Olympic Gold Medal

In 1992, Kristi won her first U.S. national title. This earned her a spot on the U.S. team for the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. Other top skaters like Tonya Harding and Midori Ito were doing very difficult jumps like the triple Axel. However, Kristi focused on making her skating beautiful and performing strong triple-triple jump combinations.

At the Olympics, even with some small mistakes in her performance, Kristi won the gold medal. This was partly because her competitors had bigger errors on their difficult jumps. Kristi later said about her performance, "You just do your best and forget the rest." After the Olympics, she successfully defended her World title, winning it for the second time.

Kristi's Professional Skating Career

After her Olympic win in 1992, Kristi decided to become a professional skater. This meant she would no longer compete in amateur events. She quickly started performing in professional competitions and shows. She won her first professional world title in December 1992.

Kristi became a four-time professional world champion, winning in 1992, 1994, 1996, and 1997. She also toured for over ten years with the famous ice show Stars On Ice. She helped make the show very popular, expanding it to many cities. Kristi enjoyed working with different choreographers to create new and exciting routines each year.

Awards and Impact

Kristi Yamaguchi has received many awards for her amazing achievements. She was the first Asian American to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympic Games. Her success opened doors for many Asian American skaters who came after her. These include Olympic medalists like Michelle Kwan and Nathan Chen.

Kristi is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee Olympic Hall of Fame and the World Skating Hall of Fame. She also received the Inspiration Award at the 2008 Asian Excellence Awards.

Kristi's Personal Life

On July 8, 2000, Kristi married Bret Hedican. He is a professional ice hockey player whom she 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.

Kristi and Bret now live in Alamo, California, with their two daughters. They also have a summer home in Minnesota.

Competitive Highlights

Kristi Yamaguchi's figure skates at the Museum of American History

Singles Career

Professional Career

Pair Skating with Rudy Galindo

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Kristi Yamaguchi para niños