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Apolo Anton Ohno (/əˈpɒloʊ ˈæntɒn ˈoʊnoʊ/; born May 22, 1982) is an American retired[6] short track speed skating competitor and an eight-time medalist (two gold, two silver, four bronze) in the Winter Olympics. Ohno was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2017[7] and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2019.

Key Information

Raised by his father, Ohno began training full-time in 1996. At the age of 14, he became the youngest U.S. national champion in 1997 and was the reigning champion from 2001 to 2009, winning the title a total of 12 times.[8][9] In December 1999, he became the youngest skater to win a World Cup event title, and became the first American to win a World Cup overall title in 2001, which he won again in 2003 and 2005.[9][10] Ohno has been the face of short track in the United States since winning his medals at the 2002 Winter Olympics.[11][12] He won his first overall World Championship title at the 2008 championships.

Ohno's accolades and accomplishments include the United States Olympic Committee's Male Athlete of the Month in October 2003 and March 2008, U.S. Speedskating's Athlete of the Year for 2003, and a finalist for the 2002, 2003, and 2006 Sullivan Award, which recognizes the best amateur athlete in the United States.[13][14][15][16]

Since gaining recognition through his sport, Ohno has worked as a motivational speaker, philanthropist, started a nutritional supplement business, and won the 2007 season of Dancing with the Stars. Ohno later became host of a revival of Minute to Win It on Game Show Network and served as a commentator for NBC's coverage of the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi and the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang. Outside of competing, he has been an entrepreneur in the health, wellness, and technology industries.

Early life

[edit]

Ohno was born in Seattle, Washington, to a Japanese-born father, Yuki Ohno (大野 幸, Ōno Yuki) and a European-American mother, Jerrie Lee.[17] Ohno's parents divorced when he was an infant, and he was raised in Seattle by his father.[18] He has had little contact with his biological mother and as of 2002 had expressed no interest in knowing her or his older half-brother.[17][18][19] Ohno's father, a hair stylist and owner of the salon Yuki's Diffusion, often worked 12-hour shifts, and with no extended family in the United States, found it hard to balance his career with raising a child.[19] His father chose to name his son Apolo after the Greek words apo, which means to "steer away from" and lo, which means "look out; here he comes."[20]

When Ohno was very young, his father meticulously researched childcare providers to care for his son during his long work hours.[19] As Apolo grew older, his father became concerned his son would become a latchkey kid, so Yuki got his son involved with competitive swimming and quad-speed roller skating at age 6. He later switched from the instruction of Benton Redford, a National Champion, to a team in Federal Way, Washington,[21][22] called Pattison's Team Extreme and became a national inline speedskating champion and record holder himself. His father used inline speed skating to fill his spare time.[8] Ohno's days were spent with morning swimming practices, followed by schooling, and finally skating practices in the afternoon.[23]

When Ohno was 12, he won the Washington state championship in the breaststroke, but preferred inline speed skating over swimming.[23] He has stated that by the time he turned 13, he attended parties with older teenagers if he did not have competitions on the weekends.[24] His father has stated that it was a struggle balancing his son's desire for independence while helping him reach his potential as a young athlete.[8]

Skating career

[edit]

Beginnings

[edit]

When he was 13 years old, Ohno became interested in short track speed skating after seeing the sport during the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer.[25] His father capitalized on this interest by driving him to short track competitions throughout the northwest United States and Canada, and Ohno won several competitions in his age divisions.[17][18] His father wanted to encourage Ohno to develop his skills and, although Ohno was underage, he got him admitted to the Lake Placid Olympic Training Center in 1996 to train full-time for short track.[18] At 13, Ohno was the youngest skater admitted to the center.[8]

At first, Ohno's commitment at Lake Placid was low until his teammates nicknamed him "Chunky", which motivated him to train harder.[17] In January, he failed to make the 1997 U.S. Junior World Team.[26] Ohno adjusted his training and made a comeback winning the 1997 U.S. Senior Championships overall title, taking a gold medal in the 1500 m, a silver in the 300 m, and came in fourth in the 500 m races.[8][27] At the age of 14, he became the youngest person to win the title.[8] Ohno then relocated to the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center to begin training with the senior level skaters, despite being only 14 years old.[27]

However, Ohno would struggle at the 1997 World Championships in Nagano, Japan, finishing 19th overall.[27] After this disappointing defeat at his first appearance at a world championships, Ohno returned home to Seattle.[27] He did not train from April to August 1997, so he gained weight and was ill-prepared for the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.[27] As a result, he finished last in the Olympic trials and did not qualify for the Olympic team.[18] Because of his losses at the World Championships and his failure to qualify for the Olympic team, Ohno recommitted himself to the sport and returned to junior-level skating at Lake Placid, rather than at Colorado Springs.[27]

At the 1999 World Junior Championships, Ohno won first overall, placing first in the 1000 m and 1500 m, and winning silver in the 500 m.[15] He won his second senior U.S. national championship in 1999. He finished fourth overall at the 1999 World Championships and earned a silver medal in the 500 m.[15] At the 2000 U.S. Championships, Ohno was unable to defend his title and finished third overall.[15] At the 2000 World Championships, Ohno finished ninth overall.[15] In the 2000–2001 season, Ohno won his first World Cup overall title, regained his National title, and finished second overall in the World Championships, losing to Chinese skater Li Jiajun.[15][28]

2002 Winter Olympics

[edit]
See also: Short track speed skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics

Qualification race controversy

[edit]

In December 2001, during the U.S. Short Track Speed Skating 2002 Olympic Trials, speed skater Shani Davis was racing for a position on the short track team. Ohno and fellow skater Rusty Smith had already earned slots on the six-man team due to points earned from earlier races. In order for Davis to qualify, he had to place first in the final race—the 1000 m—by overcoming stronger skaters Ohno, Smith, and Ron Biondo.[29] Since Ohno had been dominant in the meet to this point by winning every race he entered, a win by Davis seemed to be unlikely.

Though Ohno, Smith, and Biondo were heavily favored to win the 1000 m, the race ended with Ohno finishing third, Smith second, and Davis at the top of the podium. Prior to crossing the finish line, Ohno started celebrating for Davis and Smith.[29] Davis' first-place finish earned enough points to move past Tommy O'Hare in the final point standings and to qualify for sixth place. By finishing second, Smith earned the opportunity to skate individually in the 1000 m. The victory celebration was short-lived as rumors began that Ohno and Smith, both good friends of Davis, intentionally threw the race so Davis would win.[18]

After returning to Colorado Springs, O'Hare, who did not skate in the 1000 m, filed a formal complaint. The complaint was founded on Ohno's seemingly deliberate attempt to stop Biondo from being able to pass Smith.[30] Because of that blocking move on Biondo, Smith finished in second place and Davis finished first.[30] For three days, Ohno, Smith, and Davis stood before an arbitration panel of the United States Olympic Committee.[29] During the hearing, Davis was never accused of being at fault and Smith made the statement: "Any allegation that there was a fix, conspiracy, or understanding between Apolo and me, or anyone else, to let Shani win the race is completely false. Shani is a great athlete, skated a great race, and deserves to be on the team."[30] The final verdict was that O'Hare's claims went unproven, all three were absolved of guilt, and the claim was dismissed.[31] After the dismissal, Ohno stated, "I am thrilled that the arbitration process has officially vindicated me... As I've said since the moment of these accusations, they were untrue and I did nothing wrong".[31]

Games

[edit]
Metallic silver skates with golden blades in a glass case with the right skate being slightly elevated. There is a burgundy curtain behind the skates. The blades are much longer than the actual boot of the skates.
The skates Ohno wore at the 2002 Winter Olympics are preserved in the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History.
A black and white photo featuring a joyous man with a large smile who is giving an interview to a group of smiling news reporters that are crowded around him.
Ohno in Seattle, Washington, shortly after the 2002 Winter Olympics

At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, Ohno emerged as the face of short-track speed skating among American fans.[32] He was a medalist in two events but there was controversy associated with the results.

After a disqualification in the 500 m race,[33] he was leading the skaters in the 1000 m race. During a turn around the final corner, Ohno, Ahn Hyun Soo, Li Jiajun, and Mathieu Turcotte all fell in a series of collisions.[34][35] The last 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.[36] Ohno quickly got to his feet and crossed the finish line to win silver with Turcotte winning the bronze.[32] Ohno, coincidentally, was wearing skates made by Bradbury's own boot company, Revolutionary Boot Company. Bradbury emailed Ohno, saying "If you win gold, make sure you give me a mention!"[37]

Main article: Short track speed skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Men's 1500 metres § Controversy

In the 1500 m final race A, with one lap remaining and currently in second place, Ohno attempted to make a pass on the leader Kim Dong-Sung of South Korea, who then drifted to the inside and as a result, Ohno raised his arms to imply he was blocked. Kim finished first ahead of Ohno, but the Australian referee James Hewish disqualified Kim for what appeared to be impeding, awarding the gold medal to Ohno.[38][39] The South Korean team immediately protested the decision, appealing to the International Skating Union (ISU), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The challenges were all denied after video review.[33][39][40] South Korean media accused Ohno of simulating a foul, using the Konglish word "Hollywood action".[41]

The disqualification of Kim upset South Korean supporters, many of whom directed their anger at Ohno and the IOC. A large number of e-mails protesting the race results crashed the IOC's email server, and thousands of accusatory letters, many of which contained death threats, were sent to Ohno and the IOC.[42][43][44][45] Ohno shared his thoughts on the Koreans' hostile reaction by saying, "I was really bothered by it. I grew up around many Asian cultures, Korean one of them. A lot of my best friends were Korean growing up. I just didn't understand. Later on I realized that was built up by certain people and that was directed at me, negative energy from other things, not even resulting around the sport, but around politics, using me to stand on the pedestal as the anti-American sentiment".[46]

After Salt Lake

[edit]

Ohno continued to perform well in the sport after the 2002 Winter Games. He declined to participate in a 2003 World Cup short-track event in Korea for security reasons.[47] Despite the absence, he successfully defended his World Cup title during the 2003 season.[15] He continued his dominance by winning the World Cup title again in the 2004–2005 season.[48]

A tight group of four skaters leaning inwards as they make a turn. The four skaters are wearing yellow helmets and suits that the display flag colors of their respective countries. The skaters have their left hands touching the ice for balance as they accelerate around the turn.
Ohno in lead at a 500 m short-track race at the 2004 World Cup in Saguenay

At the first event of the 2005 World Cup event in China, Ohno severely sprained his ankle and withdrew from the event.[49] At the second event in South Korea, an estimated 100 riot police stood guard at Incheon International Airport to prevent harm from happening to Ohno.[50] Their concern stemmed from a possible lingering negative reaction from the 2002 Olympic Games disqualification controversy.[50]

Ohno won two gold medals, as well as the overall title at the meet despite suffering from a severe stomach illness,[51] and was surprised when the Korean crowd cheered his victories, saying, "I was really happy with the crowd's reaction. It was pretty positive right from the time we landed. I was really happy it wasn't (hostile). Everything went really smooth. We were happy."[52] He was unable to defend his World Cup title from the previous three seasons, finishing third in the 2005–2006 overall standings.[53] At the 2005 World Championships, he finished second overall, winning the 1000 m and 3000 m races.[54]

2006 Winter Olympics

[edit]
See also: Short track speed skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics

In the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, Ohno stumbled during a semifinal heat in the 1500 m.[55] Finishing fifth, he was unable to defend his 2002 gold medal in the event.[55] Ohno was able to win the bronze medal in the 1000 m, with Korean skaters 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.[56] Despite criticism that he appeared to move before the start, a violation of the rules, the race start was validated by the officials.[56][57] Afterward, Ohno said, "I was in the moment at the time. I thought I timed the start just perfect. The starter had been pretty quick all day, so that's why there were so many false starts at the beginning. But that was really good for me."[56]

On the same day as his 500 m gold win, he 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.[56] 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.[58]

Post-Olympic hiatus and return

[edit]

Having taken a year off from competitive skating when the 2006 Winter Olympics ended, Ohno returned to win his eighth national title, placing first in every event during the U.S. Championships held from February 23–25, 2007.[59] On April 26, 2007, he was inducted into the Asian Hall of Fame, an award which honors achievements of Asian Americans.[60]

From March 9–11, 2007, he competed at the 2007 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.[61] He 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 silver medalist Charles Hamelin and Ahn Hyun Soo, who became the first man to become a five-time World Champion.[62]

On December 24, 2007, in Kearns, Utah, Ohno won his ninth national title, finishing first in the 1000 m and the 1500 m.[63] He also finished first in the 500 m, but was disqualified for crosstracking.[63] In the 3000 m, he finished second.[63] At the 2008 World Championships in Gangneung, South Korea, Ohno won his first overall title, placing first place in the 500 m, second in the 1000 m, and third place in the 3000 m.[64] He defeated South Koreans Lee Ho-Suk, silver medalist and Song Kyung-Taek who finished third in points.[64] He was initially met with loud booing by the crowd, but managed to earn their applause with a clean skate in the 500 m.[65][66]

In 2009, he won his 10th national title and qualified for the world team.[9] Unable to defend his championship, he finished fifth in the overall rankings at the 2009 World Championships in Vienna, Austria, placing second at the 1000 m, and winning gold with the 5000 m relay team.[67][68]

2010 Winter Olympics

[edit]
See also: Short track speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Closing ceremony press conference at the 2010 Winter Olympics featuring Angela Ruggiero, Ohno, Lindsey Vonn and Bill Demong

In preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympics, Ohno lost over 9 kilograms (20 lb) from his weight at the 2002 Winter Games.[69] He went down to a 65.7 kilograms (145 lb) bodyframe and a 2.5% body fat percentage, enduring a 5-month 3-a-day training program combined with a strict nutritional program.[69][70] As a result, he could lift double the weight he could before the training.[70] With respect to his training regimen, Ohno said: "Come these Games, there's no one who's going to be fitter than me. There's just no way. Whether I can put it together on the ice or not and feel good, that's a different story. But I know, from a physical training standpoint, nobody's even close... I've never prepared like this in my life—for anything. I want to leave nothing on the table."[70]

Trials

[edit]

During the U.S. Olympic Trials held September 8–12, 2009, in Marquette, Michigan, Ohno won the overall meet title and defended his national title.[4][9] He won the finals during the 500 m, 1000 m, and 1500 m races.[4][71] However, during the 1000 m time trial, Ohno came in second to J. R. Celski despite skating a personal best of 1:24.500 to Celski's personal best of 1:23.981.[72] Celski, who finished second overall and was leading in points after the first two nights of the trials, was injured during a crash in the semifinals of the 1000 m race when his right skate sliced into his left leg; he did not skate in the 1000 m finals.[73][74] Ohno had a narrow victory in the 500 m, beating out the silver place finisher Jeff Simon by only .039 of a second.[71] Ohno, Celski, Jordan Malone, Travis Jayner, and Simon Cho were the top five finishers at the trials.[73] Afterwards, Ohno said of the nominated team: "This is the strongest team we've ever had. I feel really good about how we will do in the next Olympics."[73]

Games

[edit]

In the 1500 m final, Ohno placed second after two Korean skaters, Lee Ho-Suk and Sung Si-Bak, made contact and crashed into the wall during the final turn of the final lap.[75] He was in fourth place leading into the crash, and moved into second place as a result, earning the silver.[75] Fellow American skater J. R. Celski finished with the bronze medal. The gold medal went to South Korea's Lee Jung-Su.[75] Lee Jung-Su criticized Ohno as "too aggressive" in a post-race news conference.[65][76] Ohno stated in an interview that he was held by one of the Korean skaters, which possibly prevented him from winning gold.[77] He drew anger in South Korea after adding, "I was hoping for another disqualification, kind of like what happened in Salt Lake City."[78][79] Ohno's silver pushed his tally to six career Olympic medals, tying Bonnie Blair for most medals ever won by a U.S. Winter Olympian.[75]

Heading into the 1000 m final, Ohno had won the overall silver medal for the 1000 m during the 2009–10 World Cup by competing in three of the four competitions during the season.[80] During the finals of the 1000 m, Ohno finished in third place, making a comeback from a slip with less than three laps remaining.[81] With the bronze medal win, he became the most decorated American athlete ever at the Winter Games with seven career medals.[81] Bonnie Blair, the former record holder, said she was happy for his accomplishment, adding: "It's a great feat for him, U.S. speedskating, and the United States of America. We hope that more kids will see his accomplishments and want to try our great sport that has been so good to us and taught us so much about what it takes to be successful in life."[81]

In the 500 m final, Ohno finished the race in second place behind Canada's Charles Hamelin.[82] However, he was disqualified after impeding François-Louis Tremblay of Canada around the final turn. The silver medal went to Sung Si-Bak, with Tremblay taking the bronze.[82]

The 5000 m relay team for the United States finished with the bronze medal.[83] The team, consisting of J. R. Celski, Simon Cho, Travis Jayner, Jordan Malone, and Ohno, were in the fourth position for the majority of the race.[84] With a strong push from Celski with two laps to go, Ohno as the anchor leg was able to pass the Chinese team for third place; Canada won the gold and South Korea took silver.[84] This bronze medal was the eighth Olympic medal of his career.[84]

Sponsorships

[edit]
In 2010, Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with Shani Davis (left) and Ohno for the B.J. Stupak Scholarship, a federally-funded scholarship program designed to provide financial assistance to Olympic athletes.

Using his recognition and fame from his sport, he has accumulated a list of sponsors that includes McDonald's, General Electric, The Century Council, Vicks, and Coca-Cola.[85][86][87] Ohno's father, Yuki, said about sponsorships: "He's not like a professional athlete who has a multi-million-dollar contract with a team... He has to have sponsorships to pay the bills".[88] Capitalizing on Ohno's fame, Alaska Airlines was his primary sponsor for the 2010 Winter Games and designed a Boeing 737-800 jet with his image on the side.[88][89]

On the other hand, Ohno has criticized the lack of support for athletes who are not at the very pinnacle of their sport. In the HBO documentary The Weight Of Gold (2020), Ohno characterized the attitude of potential sponsors as "How many golds do you have because if you're silver, you're not making money. You're bronze? You're not making money. You didn't medal? I don't even know your name, pal. Go back to the end of the line, OK?"[90]

He was critical of the leaders of the U.S. Speedskating Organization when a donation of $250,000 was raised by viewers of the Comedy Central show The Colbert Report for the organization after their largest commercial sponsor, the Dutch DSB Bank, declared bankruptcy and was unable to donate its $300,000 in November 2009.[89][91] In an email to Time, he wrote it was "a bit embarrassing that our leadership couldn't secure other sponsors three months before the Olympic Games" but credited the show's host Stephen Colbert for "his willingness to help out our nation's greatest athletes".[92] In return for The Colbert Report donation, long track and short track skaters had the "Colbert Nation" logo on their uniforms for World Cup events leading up to the 2010 Winter Games.[92] Ohno did not wear the logo because Alaska Airlines was his primary sponsor for the 2010 Games.[89] He was also part of Oreo's Team DSRL sketch in 2011.

Legacy

[edit]

During his skating career in the United States, Ohno is credited with popularizing and being the face of his sport.[11][12] He said it is amazing being able to be a role model to younger skaters since growing up, he did not have that influence within his sport, but looked up to other athletes outside his sport, such as Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and Lance Armstrong.[12] After the 2010 Winter Games, he created the Apolo Anton Ohno Foundation and partnered with the Century Council's Ask, Listen, Learn Program to discourage underage drinking of alcohol and to promote a healthy lifestyle.[93][94]

Retirement

[edit]
Ohno speaking at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games

Ohno retired after the 2010 Olympics and appeared on NBC as a commentator for the 2014 Sochi Games and 2018 Pyeongchang Games.[95] In November 2014 Ohno sponsored a speedskating race in Salt Lake City, Utah, that featured the four top men and women skaters from the US, China, Canada and the Netherlands. He has appeared in a number of television shows as a host, actor and guest star since his retirement.

In 2019, he was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.[96] Also in 2019, he announced he is writing a book that chronicles his transition from Olympic athlete to entrepreneur.[97] He says the book will "...pull back the curtain, in a sense, and showcases all the inner workings that go into making an Olympic athlete and then also the other side of what happens after day 17 of the Games when you're no longer competing. You're at the top of your game, you're in top physical condition, top mental condition, and now you're thrust into a world that is very unfamiliar to you and you feel like an alien".[97] The book, Hard Pivot is scheduled for a winter 2022 release.[98]

Activism

[edit]

Ohno has supported several causes. He participated in GAP's campaign to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa by joining Product Red.[99] Half of the proceeds went to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.[99] Besides working with The Salvation Army and the Clothes off our Back Foundations, he used his fame to help raise funds for a Ronald McDonald House in Seattle after the 2002 Winter Games.[100][101] He helped raise $20,000 for Nikkei Concerns, a provider of care and services for Japanese elders living in the Pacific Northwest.[102] Later that year, Ohno joined Senator Ted Kennedy in Washington, D.C. to show the importance of math and science education by helping launch the "Math Moves U Hippest Homework Happening" program, which gave students the opportunity to do math homework online with celebrities and athletes.[103]

He has also volunteered with the Special Olympics and taken part in Unified Sports, which brings together athletes with intellectual disabilities and without on the same team. Ohno served as a Special Olympics Global Ambassador ahead of the 2015 World Summer Games in Los Angeles, California.[104] He continues to serve as a Special Olympics Global Ambassador.[105]

Television career

[edit]
A man in a tuxedo is looking down as he signs an autograph on the red carpet. There are people standing in the background.
Ohno at the movie premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean 3

Ohno has had an interest in pursuing a career in the entertainment world.[12] He participated and won the fourth season of the U.S. reality show Dancing with the Stars with his partner Julianne Hough. He returned for the 15th season which featured all-star celebrities. Ohno's interests in fashion led him to be a guest judge on the fashion reality show Project Runway in 2008, and to an endorsement deal with Omega, the maker of luxury watches, in 2010.[106] Omega president Stephen Urquhart said, "We are very proud to support Apolo here in Vancouver and congratulate him on his outstanding performance. He is poised to make history of his own here and we are thrilled that he is part of the Omega family".[107] He also appeared on Minute to Win It as the host of the GSN revival in 2013 since he is a fan of the show.[108]

Dancing with the Stars

[edit]

Season 4 (with Julianne Hough)

[edit]

Ohno participated on the fourth season of the reality show, Dancing with the Stars.[109] He was paired with professional dancer Julianne Hough, and both appeared on the show for the first time on March 19, 2007.[110] Together, they received the competition's first perfect score of 30 for their samba routine on April 16, 2007.[111] They were crowned the champions in May 22, 2007.[112]

Apolo Ohno - Dancing with the Stars (season 4)
Week Dance Music Judges' scores[a] Total score Result
1 Cha-cha-cha "Let's Hear It for the Boy" — Deniece Williams 7 7 7 21 Safe
2 Quickstep "Two Hearts" — Phil Collins 8 9 9 26 Safe
3 Jive "You Never Can Tell" — Chuck Berry 7 8 8 23 Safe
4 Waltz "If You Don't Know Me by Now" — Simply Red 9 8 9 26 Safe
5 Samba "I Like to Move It" — Reel 2 Real 10 10 10 30 Safe
6 Rumba "Cool" — Gwen Stefani 9 9 10 28 Safe
7 Foxtrot "Steppin' Out with My Baby" — Dinah Shore 9 8 9 26 Safe
Mambo "Dr. Beat" — Miami Sound Machine 9 9 10 28
8 Tango "Jessie's Girl" — Rick Springfield 10 8 10 28 Safe
Paso doble "Carnaval de Paris" — Dario G 10 10 10 30
9 Quickstep "Mr. Pinstripe Suit" — Big Bad Voodoo Daddy 10 10 10 30 Bottom two
Cha-cha-cha "Push It" — Salt-N-Pepa 10 9 10 29
10 Rumba "Midnight Train to Georgia" — Gladys Knight & the Pips 9 9 10 28 Winner
Freestyle "Bust a Move" — Young MC 10 10 10 30
Paso doble "Carnaval de Paris" — Dario G 10 10 10 30
  1. ^ Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

Season 15 (with Karina Smirnoff)

[edit]

In July 2012, it was announced Ohno would return for the fifteenth season, which was an All-Star season made up entirely of stars who had previously competed. This time, he was paired with season 13 champion Karina Smirnoff.[113] They were voted off during the ninth week of the competition.

Apolo Ohno - Dancing with the Stars (season 15)
Week Dance Music Judges' scores[a] Total score Result
1 Cha-cha-cha "Party Rock Anthem" — LMFAO, featuring Lauren Bennett & GoonRock 7.5 7 7.5 22 Safe
2 Quickstep "Five Months, Two Weeks, Two Days" — Louis Prima 8.5 8 8 24.5 Safe
3 Foxtrot "Fever" — Michael Bublé 9 8 8.5 25.5 Safe
4 Hip-Hop "Poison" — Bell Biv DeVoe 8.5 9 8.5 34.5[b] Safe
5 Team Freestyle "Call Me Maybe" — Carly Rae Jepsen 9.5 10 10 29.5 Safe
Samba "Give It to Me Baby" — Rick James 8.5 9.5 9 27
6 Viennese waltz "Skin (Sarabeth)" — Rascal Flatts 10 10 10 30 Safe
Group Freestyle "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" — Big & Rich
& "I Play Chicken with a Train" — Cowboy Troy 		No scores received
7 Cha-cha-cha &
Paso doble Fusion 		"Scream" — Usher 9 9 9 27 Safe
Swing Marathon "Do Your Thing" — Basement Jaxx – 6[c]
8 Tango "Holding Out for a Hero" — Bonnie Tyler 10 9.5 10 29.5 Safe
Jive "Greased Lightnin'" — John Travolta 9.5 9.5 10 29
9 Jazz "What You Waiting For?" — Gwen Stefani 8.5 9 9.5 27 Eliminated
Rumba "Man in the Mirror" — Michael Jackson 10 10 10 30
  1. ^ Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.
  2. ^ Apolo also received a score of 8.5 from guest judge Paula Abdul.
  3. ^ Apolo received six points for this dance marathon.

Other appearances

[edit]

Ohno has appeared in a number of television shows as a guest star, an actor and as a host. He guest-starred in the 17th episode of the 2nd season of Hawaii Five-0,[114] (2012) as a suspect and guest starred in The Biggest Loser in Season 12, Episode 9[115] and Season 15, Episode 12.[116] He appeared as the live guest during the season finale of NBC's live variety show Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris in 2015.[117] The following year, Ohno appeared as a guest star on Hollywood Game Night hosted by Jane Lynch on NBC.[118] Ohno also appeared in the Nick Jr. series Ryan's Mystery Playdate. The clues Ryan got were an ice rink, 8 medals, and ice skates.

In 2012, he appeared as a grocery store produce worker on the CBS show I Get That a Lot.

In 2013, Ohno appeared as the character "Stone" in the Syfy Original Movie Tasmanian Devils,[119] as well as the host of GSN's Minute to Win It.[120] In 2016, he made a guest appearance as himself in an American single-camera sitcom television series Superstore.[121] In 2017, Ohno appeared as a host in the second season of the reality-competition series Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge. The second season premiered on June 12, 2017. In the same year, Ohno appeared on an episode of The $100,000 Pyramid. This episode aired on July 9, 2017.

In 2021, Ohno appeared as a contestant on the NBC game show The Wall to raise money for the Team USA Fund. The episode aired on February 22, 2021.

Business

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After retiring from short track, Ohno began traveling between the U.S. and countries in Asia to pursue business in manufacturing, infrastructure development, software and hardware technologies, and health and wellness supplements.[97] He invested in a Finnish company called Oura Health and is also the cofounder of Allysian Sciences, a health and supplement company.[97] Ohno studied business at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.[122]

References

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Further reading

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Apolo Ohno

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Apolo Anton Ohno (born May 22, 1982) is an American retired short-track speed skater who holds the record as the most decorated Winter Olympian in United States history, accumulating eight medals over three Games from 2002 to 2010. His medal tally consists of two golds, two silvers, and four bronzes, earned in individual events like the 500m, 1,000m, and 1,500m, as well as relays, with standout performances including a gold in the 1,500m at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Ohno's career was propelled by early talent, joining the U.S. Olympic Training Center at age 13, but also shadowed by controversies, notably the 2002 1,500m final where South Korean skater Kim Dong-sung was disqualified for impeding, awarding Ohno the gold amid widespread international dispute, and his own semifinal disqualification in the 500m for aggressive maneuvering. After retiring from competition following the 2010 Vancouver Games—though formally announcing it in 2013—Ohno transitioned to media roles, including television hosting and motivational speaking, while advocating for mental resilience drawn from his high-stakes athletic experiences.

Early Life

Family Background and Childhood

Apolo Anton Ohno was born on May 22, 1982, in , Washington, to Yuki Ohno, a hairstylist born in who immigrated to the at age 17 without knowledge of English, and Jerrie Lee, an of European descent. His parents divorced when he was an infant, after which his mother departed with minimal subsequent contact, leaving Ohno to be raised exclusively by his father in a single-parent household. Yuki Ohno emphasized strict discipline, hard work, and respect in his son's upbringing, drawing from his own experiences to instill a commitment to excellence and prevent idleness. To occupy Ohno's time and foster positive outlets, Yuki introduced him to competitive sports early, including at age 8—where Ohno broke a state record in the 50-meter by age 12—and various skating activities starting around age 6. This approach contrasted with latchkey arrangements common in dual-income families, as Yuki prioritized direct involvement despite his career demands. Ohno's childhood included discovering an older half-brother from his mother's side in 2002, though the family structure remained centered on his father's guidance. Yuki's tough-love tactics, such as confining the 15-year-old Ohno to a remote cabin for eight days after a subpar performance at Olympic trials, underscored a philosophy of and that influenced his later resilience.

Entry into Speed Skating

Ohno first became interested in at age 12 while watching the in , . Prior to this, he had competed in races and in the area but showed little sustained focus in either. His father, Yuki Ohno, a who had immigrated from , sought to address his son's restlessness by enrolling him in a local short-track program, initially supplemented by long drives to training facilities in , , and , , where Ohno learned foundational techniques. In 1995, at age 13, Ohno attended a at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in , marking his formal entry into structured development; he became the youngest athlete ever accepted into the center's residency program. He transitioned to full-time training there in 1996, despite initial struggles with fitness and commitment that led to temporary setbacks. Ohno's rapid progress culminated in his first national-level success at age 14, when he claimed the U.S. Championships title in 1997 after only six months of dedicated ice training. This breakthrough established him as a prodigy in the sport, setting the stage for junior international competitions.

Skating Career

Initial Training and Breakthroughs

Ohno developed an interest in short track speed skating after watching the on television, taking his first on-ice turns that same year. He began full-time training in 1996 at the age of 13, becoming the youngest athlete ever accepted into the U.S. Olympic Training Center program in . Despite initial challenges with commitment, including earning the nickname "Chunky" from teammates for his lack of discipline, Ohno adjusted his approach under coaching at the center. In 1997, at age 14 and after only six months of structured ice training, Ohno won the overall U.S. Senior Short Track Championships, marking him as the youngest national champion in U.S. short track history; he secured in the 1500 m and silver in the 300 m relay. However, his inconsistent focus persisted, leading to a failure to qualify for the after performing poorly in trials, prompting a period of reflection and rededication to the sport. Following this setback, Ohno achieved a major breakthrough at the 1999 World Junior Championships in , where he claimed the overall title as the first American to do so, winning gold in the 1000 m and 1500 m events while earning silver in the 500 m. He also secured his first victory that year at age 16, in the 1000 m event in , . These results established Ohno as an emerging international talent, paving the way for senior-level success, including multiple medals in 2000 such as gold in the 1500 m and overall standings in .

2002 Winter Olympics

Apolo Ohno debuted at the in , competing in events including the 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, and 5000 m relay. He secured one gold and one silver medal across individual distances, marking the ' first medals in the sport at those Games.

Pre-Olympic Qualification Controversy

Prior to the Olympics, Ohno faced allegations of during U.S. Olympic trials. Competitors accused him of intentionally underperforming in a semifinal heat to ensure teammate Rusty Smith's qualification over another skater, allowing both Ohno and Smith to advance while disqualifying a rival. Ohno denied the claims, asserting he raced legitimately despite fatigue, but the incident drew scrutiny from peers and media, highlighting tensions within the U.S. team.

1500m Event and Disqualification Ruling

In the men's 1500 m final on February 13, 2002, Ohno trailed 's Kim Dong-sung, who crossed the finish line first in 2:18.400 but was disqualified by officials for impeding Ohno on the final lap by altering his path and blocking a pass attempt. Ohno, who finished second on the ice in 2:18.541, was awarded the gold medal, with China's Li Jiajun receiving silver. The ruling sparked outrage in , where fans protested violently, burning effigies of Ohno and boycotting U.S. goods, amid claims of home-nation bias favoring the American skater. Wayne Piercy upheld the decision based on video showing Kim's interference, though critics argued the infraction was minor in a contact-prone sport.

Subsequent Races and Medals

Ohno was disqualified in the 500 m semifinal on , , for impeding after a collision, ending his bid for a in that event. In the 1000 m final on , a multi-skater crash allowed Australia's to win gold; Ohno recovered from the fall to claim silver in 1:30.160. The U.S. team, including Ohno, placed fourth in the 5000 m , failing to after a semifinal disqualification. These results elevated Ohno's profile despite the controversies, establishing him as a prominent figure in U.S. short track skating.

Pre-Olympic Qualification Controversy

In December 2001, during the U.S. Olympic trials for in Kearns, , controversy arose over the men's 1,000-meter final race, where Apolo Ohno and teammate Rusty Smith were accused of intentionally easing their pace to allow friend to secure victory and claim the sixth and final spot on the Olympic team, thereby displacing Tommy O'Hare. O'Hare filed a formal with U.S. Speedskating, alleging a conspiracy to manipulate the outcome, supported by sworn statements from other skaters including Chris Needham, who claimed, "It was clear to me that Apolo Ohno was not skating the race in order to win and that he skated the race to ensure that won." Ohno acknowledged holding back due to back soreness but denied any rule violations or intent to fix the race, while filed a against O'Hare, which he later withdrew. The dispute escalated tensions within the team, with U.S. Speedskating President Fred Benjamin noting the "psychic damage" to athletes, but an arbitrator from the reviewed evidence—including video footage and witness accounts—and ruled on January 24, 2002, that no rules had been broken, dismissing the claims and affirming the qualification results. O'Hare subsequently dropped his appeal, allowing the team selection to stand ahead of the Games.

1500m Event and Disqualification Ruling

The men's 1500-meter final at the occurred on February 20, 2002, at the Salt Lake Ice Center in , . Apolo Anton Ohno of the entered as a favorite, having qualified strongly in earlier rounds. The race featured six skaters, including Ohno, South Korea's Kim Dong-sung, China's Li Jiajun, Canada's Marc Gagnon, and others. Kim Dong-sung led for much of the four-lap race, maintaining a narrow advantage over Ohno, who pressed aggressively from behind. On the final straightaway, as Ohno attempted to pass on the inside, Kim deviated from his line—described as cross-tracking—impeding Ohno's path and preventing a clean overtake. Ohno raised his arms in frustration upon crossing the line behind Kim, who initially celebrated the apparent victory by waving a South Korean . Race officials reviewed video footage and disqualified Kim for violating short track rules against impeding opponents through improper deviation. Ohno was awarded the gold medal, with Li Jiajun receiving silver and Jacques Martin bronze. The Olympic Committee filed an appeal with the (CAS), arguing the disqualification was unjust, but the ruling was upheld on , 2002, confirming Ohno's victory. The decision sparked significant controversy, particularly in , where it fueled public protests and criticism of perceived judging bias favoring the host nation, though international officials maintained the call adhered to established rules based on observable impeding action. This event marked Ohno's first Olympic gold and highlighted the subjective elements in short track officiating, where contact and positioning violations are adjudicated post-race via replay.

Subsequent Races and Medals

In the men's 1000 meters event at the , Apolo Ohno won the in the final held on 16. During the race, a collision in the final corner eliminated the leading skaters, including Ohno, but he recovered quickly to cross the line second behind Australia's , who avoided the crash and finished in 1:29.109 to Ohno's 1:30.160. Ohno also competed in the men's 500 meters, placing 11th overall, and was part of the team that finished fourth in the 5000 meter , earning no additional medals.

2006 Winter Olympics Performance

At the in , , Apolo Ohno participated in the men's events held at the Torino Palavela from to 26. He secured three medals: gold in the 500 m, bronze in the 1000 m, and bronze in the 5000 m , marking his first Olympic gold and contributing to the ' short track successes. Ohno's performances demonstrated tactical prowess, particularly in the 500 m where he led from start to finish, and in the where the U.S. team executed a late pass to claim bronze. In the 1500 m event, Ohno advanced through the heats but stumbled during the semifinal on February 18, finishing fifth in his heat and failing to qualify for the A final, which placed him 8th overall. This outcome prevented him from defending his 2002 title in the distance. Ohno earned bronze in the 1000 m final on February 22, crossing the line in third place behind South Korean skaters Ahn Hyun-soo and Lee Ho-suk. In the 500 m, he dominated the final on February 25, winning gold with a time of 41.93 seconds, ahead of Canada's François-Louis Tremblay (silver) and Sung Si-Bak of South Korea (bronze); Ohno had posted the fastest qualifying time earlier. The U.S. team, including Ohno, Rusty Smith, , and Jordan Malone, won bronze in the 5000 m relay final on , finishing third with a time of 7:05.569 after overtaking the Italian team on the final lap.
EventMedal/PlacementDate of FinalNotes
1500 m8thFebruary 18Stumbled in semifinal, did not advance to A final.
1000 mBronzeThird place behind two South Korean skaters.
5000 m BronzeU.S. team overtook on final lap.
500 mGoldFebruary 25Led wire-to-wire in 41.93 seconds.

Mid-Career Challenges and 2010 Return

Following the in , where he secured one in the 500-meter event and two bronzes in the 1,000-meter and 5,000-meter relay, Apolo Ohno took a one-year hiatus from competitive . This break came amid a period of reflection, as Ohno navigated the physical and mental toll of elite competition, including prior injuries and the pressure of maintaining dominance against emerging international rivals, particularly from . During this time, he diversified his pursuits, participating in the fourth season of , which he won on November 27, 2007, partnering with ; the experience highlighted his adaptability but also drew scrutiny over potential distractions from skating discipline. Ohno resumed competitive training in late 2007, marking his return at the U.S. Short Track Championships in Kearns, , on December 15–16, 2007, where he aimed to rebuild momentum ahead of the 2010 Games. However, reintegration proved challenging; at the 2007 World Championships in , , on March 11, 2007, he was disqualified in the 1,500-meter semifinal for impeding another skater, underscoring tactical and execution hurdles in high-stakes races. Over the subsequent years, Ohno contended with self-doubt and the need to recalibrate his mental resilience, factors he later attributed to the psychological demands of sustaining peak performance amid a hiatus and shifting team dynamics. By 2009, Ohno recommitted fully to a Vancouver comeback, undertaking an intensified regimen that included three daily workouts—combining on-ice sessions, training, and conditioning—for the final two months leading into the Olympics. This effort resulted in significant physical transformation, with Ohno shedding over 9 kilograms (20 pounds) from his 2002 Olympic to optimize speed and on the 111-meter track. His preparation emphasized mental fortitude, drawing on past setbacks to foster adaptability, as he trained to counter aggressive racing styles prevalent in the sport. This phase solidified his resolve, positioning him as the U.S. team's anchor despite the rigors of age (turning 28 in 2010) and a competitive field featuring younger athletes like John Celski.

2010 Winter Olympics

At the in , , held from February 12 to 28, Apolo Ohno competed in four events at the , securing one silver and two bronze s, which elevated his career total to eight Olympic medals and made him the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian, surpassing Bonnie Blair's previous record of six. In the men's 1500 m event on February 13, Ohno earned silver with a time of 2:21.989, finishing second to South Korea's Lee Jung-su (gold, Olympic record 2:17.994) after a multi-skater crash on the final lap eliminated several Korean competitors, including silver favorite Kwun Lee; U.S. teammate J.R. Celski took bronze. This marked Ohno's sixth career and his first individual silver. Ohno placed eighth in the men's 500 m event on after advancing through heats but failing to in the semifinals or final. In the men's 1000 m on , he rallied from an early slip to claim in 1:28.941, behind South Korea's Lee Jung-su () and Lee Ho-suk (silver); this was his seventh career . The U.S. team, including Ohno, Jordan Malone, J.R. Celski, and Simon Cho, won bronze in the men's 5000 m relay on with a time of 6:37.583, finishing behind gold medalist and silver medalist after a strong by Ohno. This eighth medal cemented Ohno's record.
EventDateResultMedalNotes
Men's 1500 mFebruary 132ndCrash-assisted finish behind Lee Jung-su
Men's 500 mFebruary 268thNoneAdvanced through heats
Men's 1000 mFebruary 203rdRecovery from early fall
Men's 5000 m February 263rd ()Anchored U.S. to

Trials and Preparation

Ohno qualified for the by excelling at the U.S. short track speedskating Olympic trials held in , in September 2009, where he won the 500-meter and 1,000-meter events, securing spots in multiple distances through accumulated points despite J.R. Celski taking the 1,500-meter title. These trials determined the U.S. team based on performance across key distances, with Ohno's victories in the shorter sprints ensuring his selection for the Games as the team's anchor. In preparation, Ohno adopted an individualized, high-intensity regimen distinct from team norms, training in isolation to build mental resilience and physical peak, which he later described as a "singular path" emphasizing assertive over . This approach included daily sessions starting at 6:30 a.m. with of two eggs cooked in and fruit, followed by morning short track practice until noon, and dry-land training, afternoon running and speedwork, race video analysis, a dinner of and , , and recovery via or before a 9 p.m. . Over months, he shed 25 pounds to enhance and , incorporating low-carbohydrate trends like ketogenic elements to adapt to evolving short track demands. Ohno's focus extended to psychological conditioning, drawing from past setbacks to prioritize zero-regrets execution under pressure.

Competition Results

In the men's 1,500 m event held on February 13, 2010, Ohno won the , crossing the finish line in 2:17.994 behind gold medalist Lee Jung-su of (2:17.983) and ahead of teammate J. R. Celski in third (2:18.052). In the men's 500 m event on February 13, Ohno advanced through the heats and quarterfinals but was disqualified in the A final for impeding, resulting in an 8th-place overall finish. Ohno claimed bronze in the men's 1,000 m final on February 19, 2010, with a time of 1:28.935, after starting from last place following a near tumble and passing opponents in the closing laps; Lee Jung-su took gold (1:28.863) and Lee Ho-suk silver (1:28.927). The United States men's team, comprising Ohno, J. R. Celski, Travis Jayner, and Simon Cho, secured bronze in the 5,000 m relay final on February 26, 2010, finishing in 6:47.285 behind gold medalist Canada (6:40.75) and silver medalist South Korea (6:45.840).
EventPlacementMedalNotes
1,500 m2ndSilverReached A final; closest Olympic races
500 m8thNoneDisqualified in A final for impeding
1,000 m3rdDramatic recovery from near fall in final
5,000 m relay3rdTeam event with Celski, Jayner,

Career Records and Statistical Achievements

Apolo Ohno amassed eight Olympic medals in short track speed skating, making him the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian. These include two golds, two silvers, and four bronzes earned over three Games from 2002 to 2010.
Olympic GamesEventMedal
2002 Salt Lake City1,500 mGold
2002 Salt Lake City1,000 mSilver
2006 Turin500 mGold
2006 Turin1,000 mBronze
2006 Turin5,000 m relayBronze
2010 Vancouver1,500 mSilver
2010 Vancouver1,000 mBronze
2010 Vancouver5,000 m relayBronze
At the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships, Ohno secured 21 medals, comprising seven golds, seven silvers, and seven bronzes. He won the overall world title in 2008, the first for an American male since 1976. In competitions, Ohno holds the American record with 108 medals, including 57 golds, and claimed three overall season titles in 2001, 2003, and 2005. Domestically, he captured 12 U.S. national championships between 1997 and 2009, setting the record as the youngest winner at age 14 in 1997. Additional milestones include being the youngest race victor at age 16 in 1998 and holding U.S. records in the 3,000 m (4:32.975, set 2003) and 5,000 m relay (6:39.019, set 2008).

Retirement

Announcement and Motivations

Apolo Ohno effectively retired from competitive immediately following his participation in the in , , where he won a in the 1500 meters event on February 19, 2010. Although no formal was held at the time, Ohno's teammate Reutter indicated on , 2010, that he planned to retire after the Games concluded, and Ohno himself confirmed the decision in later statements, describing it as a deliberate choice made prior to the competition's end. He further solidified this in April 2013 by ruling out participation in the 2014 Sochi Olympics, stating his career was over due to a combination of factors including a respiratory condition exacerbated by cold air exposure. Ohno's primary motivation for retiring at age 27 was a profound loss of intrinsic motivation for the sport, which he described as a shift in his heart rather than a decline in or ability; the intense training and competition that once fueled his drive no longer excited him after achieving eight Olympic medals across three Games. He characterized the as "" from what had been his defining identity and "one true love," reflecting an necessary to avoid stagnation and pursue reinvention amid growing self-doubt and fear of failure outside athletics. Contributing factors included the physical toll of the sport, characterized by high-speed collisions and nagging injuries accumulated over more than a decade, such as prior severe ankle sprains and the general wear from racing at speeds up to 35 mph on ice blades. At 27, Ohno recognized he had reached the pinnacle of short track skating—popularizing the in the United States and securing the most Winter Olympic medals for an American at the time—leaving little unaccomplished and prompting a pivot to new challenges rather than risking diminished performance or further health decline. This decision allowed him to redirect his discipline toward broader personal growth, unburdened by the obsessive focus on results that had defined his career.

Transition from Competitive Skating

Following the conclusion of the in on February 28, 2010, Apolo Ohno effectively retired from competitive at the age of 27, having decided prior to the Games that it would mark the end of his athletic career. This decision stemmed from a combination of physical wear from two decades of intense training starting at age 14, accumulating injuries, and a desire to avoid further high-stakes risks after securing eight Olympic medals. Ohno did not hold a formal or ceremony immediately, instead gradually disengaging from the sport without returning to competition. The immediate transition involved a abrupt cessation of the regimented daily that had structured his life, leading to an as skating—his primary source of purpose and recognition since —vanished. Ohno later described this phase as "," emphasizing the emotional and psychological detachment from a pursuit that had defined his self-worth and routine, leaving him without a clear next direction despite his achievements. Physically, he redirected his explosive-power-oriented physique toward endurance-based activities like running and general fitness to maintain , but without the competitive edge or team environment of skating. This shift exacerbated feelings of disorientation, as Ohno admitted to lacking preparation for non-athletic life, relying initially on residual endorsements and public persona while grappling with self-doubt and aimlessness. Over the ensuing months into 2011, Ohno's adjustment period was marked by and trial-and-error exploration, including informal involvement in sports and , though he has noted it took nearly a to achieve stability. He emphasized the absence of a post-skating blueprint, contrasting with athletes who plan exits years in advance, which prolonged his sense of before pivoting to broader professional avenues. This transitional void highlighted the common challenges for Olympians, where the hyper-focused discipline of competitive sports often leaves little room for diversified skills or networks outside performance.

Post-Retirement Professional Pursuits

Media and Television Involvement

Ohno participated in the reality competition series Dancing with the Stars on ABC, winning the fourth season in 2007 with professional partner Julianne Hough after nine weeks of performances culminating in a freestyle routine on May 22. He competed again in the fifteenth season's all-stars format in 2012, partnering with Karina Smirnoff and advancing to the finals before placing third. Following his 2011 retirement from competitive skating, Ohno hosted the Game Show Network's revival of the challenge-based series Minute to Win It, which premiered on June 25, 2013, and ran for two seasons until April 29, 2014, featuring contestants completing tasks using everyday household items within 60 seconds. Ohno transitioned into sports broadcasting as a speed skating analyst for NBC, providing commentary, features, and studio analysis starting with the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, where he contributed to coverage of short track events drawing on his experience as the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian. He continued in this capacity for the 2018 PyeongChang Games, offering insights into technique and competition dynamics. In addition to hosting and commentary, Ohno has appeared in acting roles, including a guest spot as Seth Burgess on Hawaii Five-0 in the episode aired March 19, 2012, the lead role of Stone in the 2013 original movie Tasmanian Devils, and a cameo as himself on Superstore in 2015. These television ventures have complemented his public profile built through Olympic success, emphasizing his versatility beyond athletics.

Dancing with the Stars Participation

Ohno first competed on in its fourth season, which premiered on September 24, 2007, paired with professional dancer . Their performances culminated in a victory announced during the finale on May 22, 2007, where they outperformed finalists and Kym Johnson to claim the Mirrorball Trophy after executing a paso doble. Ohno's participation marked him as the first Olympic to win the competition, leveraging his athletic background to excel in routines that averaged high judges' scores throughout the season. In 2012, Ohno returned for the 15th season, an all-stars edition, partnered with . They advanced to the semi-finals, earning notable scores including perfect 10s for a in week 6 and strong marks for a hip-hop routine in week 4, but were eliminated on November 20, 2012, alongside and , finishing fourth overall. This appearance highlighted Ohno's adaptability in diverse styles, though viewer votes proved insufficient to reach the finale.

Broadcasting and Hosting Roles

Following his retirement from competitive , Ohno hosted the revived version of the game show on , premiering on June 25, 2013, where contestants completed challenges using everyday items within 60 seconds. He succeeded as host for the series, which originally aired on from 2010 to 2011. Ohno transitioned into as a analyst and correspondent for , providing commentary during national championships, World Cup events, and Olympic coverage starting in 2013. For the in , he served as a short track analyst, contributing features and studio segments alongside on-site reporting. His role expanded to include analysis for subsequent Winter Games, such as the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, leveraging his experience as the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian with eight medals. Ohno's commentary focused on technical aspects of short track racing, including strategy, equipment, and athlete preparation, drawing from his competitive background.

Business and Investment Activities

Following his retirement from competitive in 2010, Apolo Ohno transitioned into , serving as a at Capital, a $1.8 billion fund that leverages to invest in high-growth technology companies, particularly in areas like , , and health innovations. In this role, Ohno contributed to sourcing and evaluating early-stage investments, drawing on his experience in high-performance environments to assess founder resilience and . Ohno has made personal investments in multiple startups, including a for Immi, a plant-based specializing in ramen alternatives, on March 2, 2023; Metagood, an AI-focused initiative that raised $5 million in pre-seed funding; and Mental, a platform in educational and training services. These investments reflect his interest in consumer products, ethical AI, and personal development tools, totaling at least four documented deals as of recent records. In 2021, Ohno invested in Brrrn, a New York-based at-home fitness company that develops slide board equipment mimicking short-track skating movements for cardio and , positioning himself as both an investor and promotional partner to expand its platform. Ohno co-founded Allysian Sciences in 2015 with business partner Rod Jao, a firm offering supplements aimed at cognitive enhancement and overall wellness, sourcing ingredients globally with an emphasis on Asian-sourced blends. In September 2021, Ohno, Jao, and Allysian Sciences were named defendants in a U.S. alleging their involvement in a $50 million tied to entities including Hybrid Trade Limited and Asia Digital Exchange, with claims of misappropriating funds into personal and company accounts; the case highlighted potential risks in Ohno's associated ventures but lacked publicly resolved outcomes as of 2025.

Venture Capital Engagements

Ohno served as a at Tribe Capital, a firm managing approximately $1.8 billion in assets, where he leveraged data science-driven approaches to identify and invest in high-growth companies, particularly in sectors such as , , and health innovations. In this capacity, Ohno contributed to the firm's strategy of harnessing advanced and product insights to evaluate opportunities, drawing parallels between competitive short-track speedskating and the high-stakes required in venture funding. His tenure emphasized investments aligned with personal interests in performance optimization and wellness technologies, reflecting a focus on scalable innovations with empirical potential for market disruption. Beyond his firm-level role, Ohno has engaged as an angel investor in several startups, including a Series B round in Oura, a health-tracking wearable company, on December 3, 2018; a pre-seed in Mercury, a fintech platform, alongside other backers; a Series A investment in Immi, an immigration services provider, on March 2, 2023; and participation in Sage Care's $20 million funding round announced on October 20, 2025, which supports AI-enabled healthcare solutions. These engagements underscore his selective approach to backing ventures with verifiable traction in data-intensive or health-adjacent fields, often prioritizing those with quantifiable user engagement metrics over speculative trends. Ohno's venture activities have also extended to fitness and innovations, such as his 2021 investment in Brrrn, a cold-therapy workout platform, to facilitate its expansion into products including slide board equipment adapted from speedskating techniques. This investment highlights a pattern of applying domain-specific expertise from athletics to evaluate in consumer wellness startups.

Other Entrepreneurial Ventures

In 2016, Ohno co-founded Allysian Sciences, a company headquartered in , focused on developing nutritional supplements aimed at enhancing cognitive function, reducing stress, and supporting overall wellness through products marketed as "smart pills." The venture emphasized research-driven formulations, with Ohno leveraging his personal experiences in high-performance athletics to promote the brand's emphasis on mental and physical optimization. In May 2021, Ohno became an investor and strategic partner in Brrrn, an at-home fitness company founded by Jimmy T. Martin and Johnny Adamic, which offers a slide board system simulating cold-weather training environments to enhance workouts through friction-based resistance. This involvement aligned with Ohno's expertise in , positioning him to contribute insights on athletic conditioning and product development for the brand's expansion into consumer fitness equipment. Ohno also founded Quantum Media Group post-retirement, a firm specializing in branding, , and services tailored to and clients. This entity facilitated his transition into media production, though specific operational details and outcomes remain limited in .

Speaking Engagements and Authorship

Following his retirement from competitive , Apolo Ohno established himself as a professional keynote speaker, drawing on his Olympic experiences to address audiences on , resilience, and high-performance strategies. He delivers talks through representation by agencies such as AAE Speakers Bureau and has spoken at events including corporate conferences and innovation summits.

Keynote Topics and Audiences

Ohno's presentations emphasize practical frameworks derived from his athletic career, targeting business leaders, executives, and groups. Key topics include "The Gold Medal Mindset," which covers unlocking peak performance under pressure, fostering mental clarity in high-stakes situations, and applying flow states to professional challenges. Another signature talk, "Hard Pivot," focuses on navigating life and career transitions, embracing , and redefining mental strength amid change. He also addresses overcoming obstacles, gratitude-driven grit, and the "four pillars of health"—sleep, nutrition, movement, and mindset—as foundational to sustained success. Ohno tailors content for diverse sectors, including sports-driven innovation and personal reinvention, often moderated in formats like panel discussions or workshops.

Published Works

Ohno has authored books that extend his speaking themes into and . His 2010 work, Zero Regrets: Be Greater Than Yesterday, a New York Times bestseller co-written with Alan Abrahamson, outlines strategies for incremental self-improvement and regret-free decision-making based on his competitive experiences. In Hard Pivot: Embrace Change. Find Purpose, published more recently, he provides a framework for adapting to disruptions, drawing from career pivots and emphasizing purpose-driven . Earlier, in , Ohno released A Journey: The of Apolo Anton Ohno with Nancy Ann Richardson, chronicling his rise in short-track skating from youth to Olympic prominence. These publications, available through major outlets like , reinforce his expertise in and reinvention.

Keynote Topics and Audiences

Apolo Ohno's keynote speeches draw on his experiences as an Olympic athlete to address themes of mental resilience, performance enhancement, and personal reinvention. Central to his presentations is "The Gold Medal Mindset," which explores strategies for unlocking flow states under pressure, building mental clarity during critical moments, and sustaining momentum through visualization and recovery techniques. Another prominent topic, "Hard Pivot," focuses on leading through transformation by embracing , fostering resilience, and converting setbacks into competitive advantages, often illustrated with Ohno's own career transitions. "The Five Golden Principles" outlines a framework for high performance, encompassing for presence, giving to achieve flow, grit for endurance, gearing up for precision, and action-oriented to align individual and team efforts. Ohno also covers "Zero Regrets," emphasizing courageous , consistency in habits, and transforming into motivational , alongside "Human 2.0," which promotes upgrades for adaptability in rapidly evolving environments through attention training and energy reclamation. Additional themes include peak , team culture development, and strategies, such as breaking stigma around wellness in high-stakes settings. His audiences primarily consist of business leaders, , and organizations navigating change, including Fortune 100 companies, nonprofits, sales forces, and scaling enterprises seeking insights on and overcoming obstacles. These engagements occur in formats like arena-scale keynotes, executive workshops, and intensives tailored to foster cohesion and drive impact.

Published Works

Apolo Ohno has authored three books focusing on his personal and professional experiences. His debut work, A Journey: The Autobiography of Apolo Anton Ohno, published on October 1, 2002, by Children's Publishing, details his upbringing in , early rebellious tendencies, entry into , and triumphs at the , including gold and silver medals. Ohno's second book, Zero Regrets: Be Greater Than Yesterday, co-authored with Alan Abrahamson and released on October 26, 2010, by Scribner (an imprint of Simon & Schuster), chronicles his full competitive career across three Olympics, emphasizing mental discipline, recovery from setbacks, and a philosophy of incremental self-improvement encapsulated in the mantra "be greater than yesterday." In Hard Pivot: Embrace Change. Find Purpose. Show Up Fully., published on February 22, 2022, by Sounds True, Ohno reflects on his transition from athletics to business and media, offering frameworks for navigating uncertainty through resilience, strategic adaptation, and purposeful leadership drawn from his ventures in and .

Philanthropy and

Charitable Initiatives

Ohno serves as a Global Ambassador for International, supporting programs that provide sports training and competition opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities. In this role, he has volunteered in Unified Sports initiatives, which pair athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same teams to foster inclusion and skill development. He has also mentored short track speed skaters, drawing on his expertise as an eight-time Olympic medalist to guide their training and technique. In February 2017, Ohno initiated a fundraiser to support the USA team's travel and participation in the World Winter Games held in in March of that year, emphasizing the event's role in promoting athlete empowerment. Earlier, in 2012, he took part in the opening ceremonies of the Japan National Winter Games, highlighting his commitment to expanding the organization's global reach. Ohno has endorsed SeeYourImpact.org, a nonprofit platform enabling micro-donations directly to individuals in developing regions, with donors receiving emailed updates including photographs to verify the tangible effects of their contributions, such as improved living conditions or education access. He has publicly advocated for youth sports programs in northern , citing a specific charity there that delivers athletic opportunities to children as one of his favored causes for altering life trajectories through .

Mental Health and Personal Development Focus

Ohno has publicly emphasized the need to address challenges faced by athletes, drawing from his own experiences with competitive pressure during his career. In a July 29, 2024, interview with PBS NewsHour, he highlighted how the intense demands of Olympic training and performance can exacerbate mental strain, advocating for greater prioritization of psychological well-being to sustain long-term success. He has described as foundational to overall , stating in discussions that it "has no boundaries" and requires proactive stigma reduction for effective reinvention after high-stakes careers. Through speaking engagements and media appearances, Ohno promotes strategies rooted in and resilience, including daily via four key questions: "What am I grateful for? What did I learn? What did I enjoy? What relationships matter most?" These practices, outlined in his 2023 reflections, aim to foster healthier decision-making amid life's transitions. He also advocates four pillars of —physical activity, , , and mindset—asserting that neglecting them undermines professional and personal efficacy, as shared in addresses on high performance. In advocacy efforts, Ohno has supported initiatives to combat the global crisis, including participation in a July 2022 event focused on fundraising and solution-finding for mental health epidemics, underscoring his commitment to broader societal impact beyond athletics. His Hard Pivot: Embrace the Future and Let Go of the Past (2022) integrates these themes, using personal anecdotes of overcoming self-doubt to guide readers on mindset shifts for sustained growth.

Legacy

Sporting Accomplishments and Influence on Short-Track Skating

Apolo Ohno achieved prominence in short track speed skating through consistent high-level performances across international competitions. Over his Olympic career spanning three Winter Games, he secured eight medals, establishing him as the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian. His medals breakdown includes two golds, two silvers, and four bronzes, earned in individual and relay events.
Olympic GamesEventMedal
2002 1,000 mSilver
2002 1,500 mGold
2006 500 mGold
2006 1,000 mBronze
2006 5,000 m relayBronze
2010 1,000 mBronze
2010 1,500 mSilver
2010 5,000 m relayBronze
At the World Championships, Ohno amassed 21 medals, comprising eight golds, seven silvers, and six bronzes, including the overall title in 2008. He also claimed three overall championships in 2001, 2003, and 2005, alongside 12 U.S. national titles. These accomplishments underscored his dominance in a sport characterized by high-speed races, frequent collisions, and strategic positioning on a 111.12-meter track. Ohno's breakthrough at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, where he won gold in the 1,500 meters and silver in the 1,000 meters, positioned him as a fan favorite and elevated short track speed skating's profile in the United States. His visibility, amplified by distinctive personal style and media presence, contributed to increased interest and participation in the discipline domestically, transforming it from a niche event to one with broader appeal. As an ambassador for U.S. Speedskating, Ohno's sustained success across multiple cycles helped sustain momentum for the sport's growth in North America.

Public Perception and Media Impact

Apolo Ohno is widely regarded as a national icon of , credited with elevating the sport's visibility through his charismatic persona, distinctive beard, and record-breaking Olympic achievements, which include eight medals across three Games. His appeal spans generations, inspiring young athletes and fans alike with stories of overcoming personal challenges, such as early behavioral issues and rigorous training demands. Media coverage has amplified Ohno's image as a resilient performer, with appearances on , including his victory on in 2005, broadening his reach beyond sports audiences and reinforcing perceptions of him as multifaceted and approachable. Guest roles on shows like Superstore and Hawaii Five-0, along with motivational interviews emphasizing and perseverance, have sustained his post-retirement relevance, positioning him as an advocate for emotional resilience rather than solely an athletic figure. These outlets have contributed to short track's mainstream traction in the U.S., transforming a niche discipline into one associated with high-stakes drama and Ohno's personal narrative of triumph. Internationally, Ohno's perception is more polarized, particularly in , stemming from the 1,500-meter final where he was awarded gold after Kim Dong-sung's disqualification for impeding Ohno's path on the final turn—a ruling upheld by officials but decried by Korean media and fans as favoritism toward the American skater. This incident fueled anti-American backlash, including death threats against Ohno investigated by the FBI, public protests, and cultural references like a South Korean soccer player's mocking "Ohno celebration" during the 2002 World Cup. South Korean outlets framed the event within broader narratives of U.S. dominance, exacerbating perceptions of Ohno as a symbol of perceived injustice, though subsequent visits to Korea elicited more positive receptions. In contrast, Western media largely portrayed the disqualification as consistent with short-track rules emphasizing clean racing lines, highlighting Ohno's amid adversity.

Major Controversies and Balanced Perspectives

The primary controversy surrounding Apolo Ohno occurred during the men's 1,500-meter final at the in on February 20, 2002. South Korea's Kim Dong-sung crossed the finish line first, but Australian referee James Hewish disqualified him for impeding Ohno by drifting inward across lanes without signaling or checking behind, awarding the gold medal to Ohno. Video footage confirmed Kim's lane change affected Ohno, who had raised his arms in protest, consistent with (ISU) rules prohibiting actions that hinder another skater's progress. South Korean media and public reacted with outrage, accusing Ohno of fabricating the infraction—termed "Hollywood action" in —and sparking protests, including the burning of Ohno effigies and demands for medal revocation. Balanced analysis upholds the disqualification: ISU guidelines, as applied by neutral referees, prioritize preventing collisions over finish-line position when impeding occurs, and post-race reviews found no evidence of referee toward the host nation. Ohno's prior disqualifications, such as for pushing Japan's Terao in the 500-meter semifinals days earlier, demonstrate consistent rule enforcement against him. A secondary flashpoint emerged in the 1,000-meter final on February 22, 2002, where a multi-skater crash involving Ohno, South Korea's Ahn Hyun-soo, Canada's Marc Gagnon and Mathieu Turcotte, and China's Li Jiajun allowed Australia's to win gold while Ohno recovered for silver and Turcotte . Canadian fans later booed Ohno at the 2010 Olympics, attributing the crash to his aggressive skating, though investigations cleared him of initiating it. Objectively, short-track's high-contact nature—evident in 40% of Olympic races featuring falls—undermines claims of targeted fouling, with Ohno's eight career medals reflecting sustained performance under scrutiny rather than systemic favoritism. In non-sporting realms, Ohno faced a 2021 class-action alleging promotion of fraudulent tokens via a co-founded venture, but a U.S. federal court dismissed claims against him in February 2022 for lack of evidence tying him to securities violations. No doping allegations have substantiated against Ohno, who maintained therapeutic use exemptions compliant with standards for performance aids. These incidents, while amplifying Ohno's polarizing image abroad, align with short-track's inherent volatility and underscore the sport's reliance on over subjective narratives.

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