Apolo Anton Ohno
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Tags: Sports, ice, speed, skating, short track By: CareAgain |
There is an old expression, show me your friends and I will show you your future. In reality it is more than an expression, it is a statement of fact. Several years ago a young man I know from Cincinnati, Ohio won the Silver Medal in the Olympics. Upon his return home from the Olympic Games, he was given endorsements and a boxing contract worth several million dollars. He was an extremely talented young boxer. But, he possessed one giant flaw...he continued to 'run around' with the young men he grew up with. He called them his 'posse'. A few years after the young man won the Silver Medal, he found himself behind the walls of a Federal Penitentiary. He failed to understand that those we associate with can determine where we end up in life.
On May 22, 1982, a young child was born in Federal Way, Washington. He was the son of Jerrie Lee and Yuki Ohno. His name was Apolo Anton Ohno. Apolo's parents divorced when he was very young and he was raised by his father. As Apolo grew older he became involved in petty delinquency. His father was determined to get Apolo involved in some sport. Apolo pursued in-line skating. At the age of 13, 'Sports Illustrated for Kids' named him 'Hotshot' for his skating ability. Despite his athletic talents, Apolo continued to 'hang out' with older kids and he became even more unruly.
When Apolo was 14 years old he became interested in short-track speed skating after viewing a program on television. Apolo's father seized upon his son's attraction to the sport and drove him to meets throughout Northwestern America and Canada. Apolo won several awards in his age group. Despite this, Apolo continued to experiment with drugs, theft, and violence. Apolo's father desperately and successfully pleaded (Apolo was not old enough) to get his son admitted to the Lake Placid Olympic Testing Center to train full time. Accepted, Apolo ditched his flight and disappeared with a friend for a week. Yuki Ohno pleaded with his son to return and Apolo did. In 1997, at the age of 14, Apolo became the youngest U.S short-track speed skating champion. Apolo returned home to Seattle and returned to his former ways. Over-weight and poorly trained, in 1998, at the Nagano Winter Olympics, he finished last in the trials. Apolo was devastated but his father drove him to a remote cabin in Irion Springs, Washington. For eight days Apolo, angry and confused, thought about his career. He thought about his friends who were either dead or in jail. There he made a commitment to short-track speed skating. From that wilderness cabin, the dominance of Apolo Anton Ohno was birthed!
In 2001, Apolo won the Gold Medal in the World Championships in Jeonju and became the first American to become the overall World Cup Champion. He qualified for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. There, Apolo became a fan favorite and won a Gold and Silver Medal. In the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Apolo won a Gold Medal and two Bronze Medals. In 2007, Apolo won his eighth U.S. National Title placing first in every event held during the U.S. Championships. Also, in 2007, Apolo won a Gold Medal at the World Championships held in Milan, Italy.
In February, 2007, Apolo signed to dance on the ABC television network series 'Dancing with the Stars'. Apolo and his partner Julianne Hough advanced to the final round and there on his 25th birthday he and his partner were named the winners of 'Dancing with the Stars' Season 4.
Apolo has announced that he will be competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics. He said, "I feel like I have been blessed with a gift...and if I am able, willing, and healthy, then why would I throw that away?"
While Apolo Anton Ohno has been blessed with maybe more than a gift but a talent, I believe he has been more blessed with a courageous father! While Apolo Anton Ohno is a hero to young short-track skaters around the world, Apolo's father, Yuki, is a hero to parents everywhere. Apolo's father understood the importance of his son's friends and their impact on his future. Yuki 'pulled' Apolo from the 'grips' of all those young men who die or go to prison. This is a wonderful story of a hero helping mentor to a future hero!
On May 22, 1982, a young child was born in Federal Way, Washington. He was the son of Jerrie Lee and Yuki Ohno. His name was Apolo Anton Ohno. Apolo's parents divorced when he was very young and he was raised by his father. As Apolo grew older he became involved in petty delinquency. His father was determined to get Apolo involved in some sport. Apolo pursued in-line skating. At the age of 13, 'Sports Illustrated for Kids' named him 'Hotshot' for his skating ability. Despite his athletic talents, Apolo continued to 'hang out' with older kids and he became even more unruly.
When Apolo was 14 years old he became interested in short-track speed skating after viewing a program on television. Apolo's father seized upon his son's attraction to the sport and drove him to meets throughout Northwestern America and Canada. Apolo won several awards in his age group. Despite this, Apolo continued to experiment with drugs, theft, and violence. Apolo's father desperately and successfully pleaded (Apolo was not old enough) to get his son admitted to the Lake Placid Olympic Testing Center to train full time. Accepted, Apolo ditched his flight and disappeared with a friend for a week. Yuki Ohno pleaded with his son to return and Apolo did. In 1997, at the age of 14, Apolo became the youngest U.S short-track speed skating champion. Apolo returned home to Seattle and returned to his former ways. Over-weight and poorly trained, in 1998, at the Nagano Winter Olympics, he finished last in the trials. Apolo was devastated but his father drove him to a remote cabin in Irion Springs, Washington. For eight days Apolo, angry and confused, thought about his career. He thought about his friends who were either dead or in jail. There he made a commitment to short-track speed skating. From that wilderness cabin, the dominance of Apolo Anton Ohno was birthed!
In 2001, Apolo won the Gold Medal in the World Championships in Jeonju and became the first American to become the overall World Cup Champion. He qualified for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. There, Apolo became a fan favorite and won a Gold and Silver Medal. In the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Apolo won a Gold Medal and two Bronze Medals. In 2007, Apolo won his eighth U.S. National Title placing first in every event held during the U.S. Championships. Also, in 2007, Apolo won a Gold Medal at the World Championships held in Milan, Italy.
In February, 2007, Apolo signed to dance on the ABC television network series 'Dancing with the Stars'. Apolo and his partner Julianne Hough advanced to the final round and there on his 25th birthday he and his partner were named the winners of 'Dancing with the Stars' Season 4.
Apolo has announced that he will be competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics. He said, "I feel like I have been blessed with a gift...and if I am able, willing, and healthy, then why would I throw that away?"
While Apolo Anton Ohno has been blessed with maybe more than a gift but a talent, I believe he has been more blessed with a courageous father! While Apolo Anton Ohno is a hero to young short-track skaters around the world, Apolo's father, Yuki, is a hero to parents everywhere. Apolo's father understood the importance of his son's friends and their impact on his future. Yuki 'pulled' Apolo from the 'grips' of all those young men who die or go to prison. This is a wonderful story of a hero helping mentor to a future hero!
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