Apolo Ohno
American short-track speed skater and eight-time Olympic medalist.
Special Olympics 2017 · CC0
Apolo Anton Ohno, born on May 22, 1982, is a retired American short-track speed skater who collected eight Olympic medals—two gold, two silver, and four bronze. He entered the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2018 and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame two years later. Since his medal haul at the 2002 Winter Games, Ohno has served as the public face of short-track skating in the United States.
Raised solely by his father, Ohno committed to full-time training in 1996. He became the youngest U.S. national champion at 14 in 1997 and went on to win that title 12 times, though he did not hold it every year from 2001 through 2009—he finished second in 2002 and did not compete in 2006. In December 1999, he set a record as the youngest skater ever to claim a World Cup event title. He became the first American to win a World Cup overall title in 2001, repeating that feat in 2003 and 2005. Ohno captured his first overall World Championship crown in 2003.
His honors include being named 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 Sullivan Award—which recognizes the nation’s top amateur athlete—in 2002, 2003, and 2006.
Beyond competition, Ohno has worked as a motivational speaker and philanthropist, launched a nutritional supplement business, and won the 2007 season of *Dancing with the Stars*. He later hosted a revival of *Minute to Win It* on Game Show Network and served as a commentator for NBC’s coverage of the 2014 Sochi and 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games. Off the ice, he has pursued entrepreneurship in health, wellness, and technology.
**Early life** Ohno was born in Seattle, Washington, to Yuki Ohno, a Japanese-born father, and Jerrie Lee, a European-American mother. His parents divorced when he was an infant, and his father raised him in Seattle. He has had little contact with his biological mother; as of 2002, he expressed no interest in knowing her or his older half-brother. Yuki Ohno, a hairstylist who owned the salon Yuki’s Diffusion, often worked 12-hour shifts and, without extended family in the U.S., struggled to balance his career with parenting. He named his son Apolo not after the Greek god but from the Greek words *apo* (“steer away from”) and *lo* (“look out; here he comes”).
Quick Facts
- Sport
- Short track speed skating
- Birth Date
- 1982-05-22
- Birth Place
- Seattle, Washington, U.S.
- Height
- 5 ft 8 in
- Weight
- 65.7 kg
- Country
- United States of America
- Personal Best
- 500 m: 41.327 (2009) / 1000 m: 1:24.500 (2009) / 1500 m: 2:11.280 (2003) / 3000 m: 4:32.975 (2003)
- Retired
- 2010
- Worlds
- World Championship / 2008 Overall / World Cup / 2001 Overall / 2003 Overall / 2005 Overall
- Show Medals
- no
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Ohno was born in Seattle, Washington, to a Japanese-born father, Yuki Ohno, and a European-American mother, Jerrie Lee. His parents divorced when he was an infant, and he was raised by his father. At age 6, his father involved him in competitive swimming and quad-speed roller skating. He later became a national inline speedskating champion. At 13, after seeing short track during the 1994 Olympics, he began training full-time at the Lake Placid Olympic Training Center in 1996. He became the youngest U.S. national champion in 1997 at age 14 and won the title a total of 12 times, though he did not hold it every year from 2001 to 2009—he finished second in 2002 and did not compete in 2006.
At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Ohno emerged as the face of short-track speed sk
Reader's Guide
Apolo Ohno's significance lies in his role as the most decorated American short-track speed skater in Olympic history, with eight medals spanning multiple Winter Games. His career helped popularize short-track speed skating in the United States, particularly after his performances at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Ohno's longevity at the top of his sport is reflected in his 12 U.S. national titles and multiple World Cup overall championships. Beyond competition, he became a crossover figure through television appearances and entrepreneurial ventures in health and wellness. His induction into both the International Sports Hall of Fame and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame underscores his lasting impact. The controversy surrounding the 2002 Olympic trials, where he was accused but later cleared of intentionally throwing a race, remains a notable episode in his career. Ohno's legacy also includes his work as a commentator for NBC's coverage of the 2014 and 2018 Winter Games, extending his influence beyond his active skating years.
Did You Know?
- Ohno was named not after the Olympian deity Apollo but from Greek words meaning 'steer away from' and 'look out; here he comes.'
- He was a finalist for the Sullivan Award in 2002, 2003, and 2006.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Apolo Ohno?
Apolo Ohno is a retired American short-track speed skater born on May 22, 1982, who became the most decorated Winter Olympian in U.S. history with eight total medals. He is widely recognized as the defining public figure of short-track skating in America.
How many Olympic medals did Apolo Ohno win?
Ohno collected eight Olympic medals across his career—two gold, two silver, and four bronze. His first medal came at the 2002 Winter Games, which launched his status as a national icon.
What sport did Apolo Ohno compete in?
Ohno was a short-track speed skater, a discipline where athletes race on a small oval ice track in packs rather than in separate lanes. He dedicated himself to full-time training starting in 1996 and went on to win the U.S. national title twelve times.
When did Apolo Ohno enter the Hall of Fame?
He was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2018, followed by the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2019. These honors recognized a career that spanned multiple Winter Games and cemented his legacy in the sport.
Why is Apolo Ohno important to American winter sports?
Since his breakthrough at the 2002 Winter Olympics, Ohno has served as the primary public face of short-track skating in the United States. Raised solely by his father and becoming the youngest U.S. national champion at age 14, his journey made the sport far more visible to American audiences.
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