Next five shots courtesy of Susan, including...

...special image #500

Back by popular demand...

News from Katie

i just got my issue of 17 magazine, and apolo is nominated for best male athlete for the teen choice awards. in the magazine it said that you could vote at www.seventeen.com but i went there, and there is no link to the ballot. i just wanted to make this fans at the OZ aware of this so we can get him this award!

Listen now to Apolo's interview on KQED:

Pacific Time Archives (link toward bottom of page)

from Joanna via People

this from Princess Lea...Apolo with singer April Villanueva

Sonia sends this link

Two transcripts from Seattle-area news stations

Next four from Jo

Happy 20th Birthday collage, sent by Blair

The bottom line: Apolo T&A fest, courtesy of LoopyLu

A wonderful HAPPY BIRTHDAY, big guy! Big up from NYC...

Still Partying in the OZ!
Do I hear corks popping in OZ-land? Let the bubbly flow -- Apolo turns 20 today, and I'll drink to that!
Wherever you may be, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, APOLO!! You know the OZ loves you.

Baby,you've come a long way...

Joanna sends in the next six

Next three from the prolific Brooke

Time for another round of "Where's Apolo?"

Next two from Sonia and Lyn via Salt Lake Tribune

Well lookie here! Image upload is back up again. Now who was it who wanted an image off AAO's autograph recently? This one courtesy Jaden

Two audio clips from Chris J

Apolo discusses his race strategy (Find audio link below the article)
Apolo discusses preparing for the Olympics (with video)

Thanks to Megan for sending in this transcript of Apolo on "Good Day Atlanta," aired 5/02/02


Following is the text of the five lead-in promos and interview:
(Promo): "He skated into history and into the hearts of America during this year's Winter Olympics. Apolo Ohno overcame some pretty amazing odds to achieve his dreams. Now he's helping kids here do the same. The Golden Boy of the Winter Games joins us live this morning."
(Promo): "Apolo Ohno tells us how he beat the odds both in life and on the ice and only we can tell you how he's helping kids here do the same."
(Promo): " . . . heartthrob's here, the fastest man on ice is here. Millions of people saw what Olympic gold medal winner Apolo Ohno can do on the track but wait'll you hear what he's doing off the ice."[The mind reels.--Ed.]
(Promo): "Apolo Ohno overcame remarkable odds to reach Olympic glory. Now he's helping kids here reach their dreams. And the Golden Boy joins us live in about 15 minutes."
(Promo: "Well, America had several heroes at this year's Winter Games but there's one who stands out, the man who skated his way into the history books. Apolo Ohno joins us in just a bit."
[At beginning of interview, there's a closeup of Apolo's gold medal held by the reporter.]
Reporter: "That's gold, the time is now 7:53, and if you don't know our next guest, you must have been sleeping under a rock during this past Winter Olympics. He stole the show in Salt Lake City to grab both gold and a silver medal as a U.S. speedskater. Apolo Anton Ohno joins us this morning to tell us how his life has changed since his meteoric rise to fame, and, Apolo, thanks for joining us this morning."
Apolo: "Thank you for having me."
Reporter: "This is unbelievable [gesturing to the gold medal], and it's heavy, too."
Apolo: "It is heavy, yeah."
Reporter: "So tell us, what was it like when you were on the podium there and they were putting this around your neck and,you know, finally, that you're recognized as the best in the world?"
Apolo: "Actually, it was when I got the silver the first time, you know, it was that initial moment, but I was so thrilled. You know, it didn't even hit me until I actually got on the stage and on the podium, to be the top three in the world on that day. And, you know, the Olympics is every four years, so it's like the pinnacle of all competitions."
Reporter: "And you started training for this early. I mean, you're only 18 -- "
Apolo: "19 now."
Reporter: "19 now, but you started training for this at 14. You knew that you were shooting for this. I mean, what does it feel --"
Apolo: "Right, kind of, kind of. You know, when I was 14, I was kind of -- I wasn't really sure about it. I was training but when you're 14 years old, you know, you don't really have set goals in your mind yet. I was still a kid, I still AM a kid, but --"
Reporter: "Right. Is that difficult, trying to be a 19 year old regular guy and then trying to balance the demands of fame that comes along with being a superstar in the Olympics?"
Apolo: "A little bit. You definitely have to take it in stride and day by day and really realize what your real priorities are, you know what I mean? But I'm having a blast, you know, I've been all over, just having all kinds of fun, and I'm in Atlanta!"
Reporter: "Yeah -- now, you're still training and you live in Colorado Springs --"
Apolo: "I do."
Reporter: "-- where the headquarters is, the training facility . . ."
Apolo: "Right."
Reporter: "What is your life like now? I mean, how do you balance, you know, all the travel and the training?"
Apolo: "Well, actually, since the Games, I haven't trained at all."
Reporter: "Oh, okay."
Apolo: "Yeah, completely took it off. I needed a good break since I've been training continually for four years. But usually what I balance is -- it's a fine line between how much you can do and how much time you gotta take off because it's my body and I have it to say how much I gotta do."
Reporter: "There was a lot of controversy at this year's Games -- you fell, and the French Olympic judge. How was the mood around the Village when you guys heard about this whole French judge scandal?"
Apolo: "Um, I don't know, you know, 'cause for me -- you definitely heard about it 'cause it was in the papers and on tv. But for me, I was getting ready to race so my mind set had to be totally focused and I didn't want to be off track at all. I really had to just try to be as focused as possible which, for me, that meant turning the tv off and not reading the newspapers."
Reporter: "You talk about focus. You guys set such a high standard for yourselves. Were you disappointed with the silver?"
Apolo: "Not at all! No, not at all because I skated one of the best races of my life, you know. And then I think it was definitely unfortunate that I went down in that last race but I knew I was coming back for more."
Reporter: "Right. I don't think people realize how difficult it is to get around that track in a hurry."
Apolo: "Right -- "
Reporter: "I mean, there's no room. I mean, is there always contact like that?"
Apolo: "There's not supposed to be but, you know, when you have like that top level competition and you've got four other skaters out there and you're going at such a high speed and everyone wants to win, there's going to be, I think, a little contact, yeah."
Reporter: "So let's talk about this story I read somewhere that your dad dropped you off at the airport -- "
Apolo: "Yeah -- " [smiles and nods head sheepishly]
Reporter: "And you're supposed to be going to speedskating camp but you ended up someplace else."
Apolo: "Yeah, it was when I was 14 and my dad, actually he was sending me to Lake Placid, New York, for a junior development program which is the start of the whole Olympic movement, you know. For me, I was 14, I just wanted to hang out with my friends, you know, and I didn't really realize the potential that I had within myself, being so young. So he dropped me off at the airport, you know, soon as he dropped me off, I made a phone call to my friends, said I'm at the airport, you guys gonna come pick me up, let's get outta here. Picked me up, zoomed out real quick."
Reporter: "Yeah, you guys got outta there! Hey, you're in Atlanta for the Art Atlanta -- "
Apolo: "Right, Art Atlanta."
Reporter: "The international -- "
Apolo: "At the Cobb Galleria Center."
Reporter: "Right."
Apolo: "Yeah, it's a fundraiser for CARE -- they help a lot of poorer countries. It's going to be a silent auction tonight."
Reporter: "And you're going to be there?"
Apolo: "I'm going to be there."
Reporter: "You're giving out an award, I understand."
Apolo: "I am."
Reporter: "Hey, all the ladies in the studio wanna know if you've got a famous girlfriend or something that we need to know about?"
Apolo: [Laughing] "Famous girlfriend? No, I don't . . . It's pretty hard keeping a steady relationship. I mean, being a straight-up athlete, in the training center, training, and then especially training for the Olympics and then after the Olympics, means I'm gone SO much and really, like, my time is slim to none. Because in between interviews like this one, I'll probably be on the phone arranging other things or . . . it's just crazy so, you know, it's hard, but -- "
Reporter: "And you're just 19!"
Apolo: "Yeah!"
Reporter: "You haven't even lived yet!"
Apolo: "That's right! [laughing] Haven't made my quota yet!"
Reporter: "Apolo, thanks so much for joining us this morning. We appreciate it."
Apolo: "Thanks for having me."
[Then the reporter goes on to give some details about the Art Atlanta thing that Apolo's going to that night.]

Party in the OZ!

Let's all raise a glass and toast our wizard of OZ. That's right, it's Todd's birthday today (Monday, that is)! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Toddio. We miss you here in OZ-land, but hope you're whooping it up the Big Apple!

There is a god. All hail Megan and Kimber, who collaborated on the three series below. More can be found at Definitely Apolo.

"I'm too sexy for my shirt"

"sharpening his skate" ;)

From the braids series

Where's Apolo? from Sonia

from Lyn

Still not able to post new images guys - sorry! But we should have a lot of goodies when the problem gets fixed.

A great article from the Federal Way Mirror, 2/19/02

For every Olympic athlete who stands on the medal podium this month in Salt Lake City, there is a trail of former coaches, teachers and neighbors who remember children motivated in their quest to get there. U.S. Olympic speed skater Apolo Ohno’s path winds through Federal Way. Although Ohno left Federal Way when he was 14 to attend the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, N.Y., he left a lasting impression on just about everyone who had contact with him. Ohno goes for the gold medal today in the 1,000 meter finals — and is a favorite to win the 500 and 1,500 later next week. Ohno grew up in the Colonial Forest neighborhood off First Avenue, but attended Nautilus Elementary School as a student in the Gifted and Talented Education program. He then attended Saghalie Junior High. Saghalie principal Carol Eberhardt will be watching and cheering for her former student when he skates tonight. “I remember he wore a red jacket all the time,” Eberhardt said. “I had quite a few conversations with his dad because his attendence was impacted because he was traveling all over the United States attending skating events. His dad wasn’t excited about doing that. But on the other hand, Apolo was doing real well at these events and his dad was trying to support him out of his own pocket. His dad (Yuki) had a real dilemma.” It seems like Yuki made the right decision.
Pam Tuggle worked with Ohno in the “Solution Room” at Saghalie Junior High as a behavior intervention counselor. “He spent lots of time with me because he was in trouble a lot and missed a lot of school,” Tuggle said. “He’s not a bad kid, he just had some negative influences in his circle of friends, a dad that worked all the time and no mom in his life. Any given day he was at school, he would see my face.” When the school opened in 1994, Ohno attended Saghalie for the seventh grade and was in the honors program, despite often lacking focus and having an extremely high level of energy. “He used to come into my office, and we’d ask the kids what their immediate goal was to get them back on track,” Tuggle said. “Then we’d talk about their long-term goals. He would always say his goal was to go to the Olympics and win a gold medal. I’d say, ‘That’s great, you’re going to have to discipline yourself and go for it.’ But on the inside, I didn’t believe it. I thought, ‘Let’s hope so, if you don’t end up in jail.’ “Junior high kids always have big goals — when they tell you they’re going to be a professional basketball player or pro football player. Nine times out of 10, you just encourage them but you don’t believe them.”
Ohno missed a lot of school because of competitions, but was smart enough that he could get caught up fairly quickly. Teachers were often frustrated by this because they could see his academic potential. He was a respectful student in one-on-one situations, but was often distracted by being “cool” in groups. The last time Tuggle saw Ohno was when he was in the eighth grade, just before he left unexpectedly to New York. “It’s wonderful that he turned things around. It shows me he can focus when he wants to. He always had a determination, it was just about what he was determined to do. I always saw a drive in him, it was just about what he chose to go for. There was never a doubt that it was there.”
About a year after Ohno left Saghalie, someone told Tuggle that Ohno had won a national championship. “I remember thinking, ‘Maybe this kid is going to go somewhere.’” Tuggle said. “I remember hearing about (the Olympics) and not being one bit surprised. That sounds exactly like what he said he was going to do. I thought, ‘Wow, this is for real. This kid’s really going to make it.’” Tuggle, now the dean of students at Saghalie, has a TV set up in her office so she can watch Ohno compete at the Olympics. “To me, he’s very deserving of an honor because he took control of his life, which could have gone a complete opposite direction,” Tuggle said. “A kid will never turn their life around unless they want to. He had to have that desire and want and drive to do it. I’m very proud of him and very excited for him. I’m certainly going to be watching.”
Bob Darrigan has been a neighbor of the Ohnos for more than 10 years at Colonial Forest townhouse and condominium complex off First Avenue in Federal Way. “You never know what your neighbor may end up being someday,” Darrigan said. “In our community, we have greatness all around us and many of us don’t even know it. It’s important for you to remember to be courteous and kind to your neighbor; if anything, someday they may become famous.” Darrigan described Apolo as a very private, polite and courteous young man. “He was always a very quiet, unobtrusive young man,” Darrigan said. “I don’t know if he has friends, as a matter of fact. He probably does — he’s probably going to have a heck of a lot more.” “I think it’s marvelous, it’s exciting and I’m just happy for him, particularly for he and his dad. It had to be really tough raising a young man as a single parent. I’m very happy for both of them. “It’s the perfect example of a single parent doing a great job.”
Just before Ohno left for the Olympic training center when he was 13, he swam with the King County Aquatic Club for six months with coach Jerry Olszewski. “The kid was an athlete,” Olszewski said. “He was a great swimmer. He was the best swimmer in his age group on our club, and in the Seattle area.” Ohno finished as a finalist at the regional level, which includes all of the Pacific Northwest. “He started out as a roller skater, then inline skating, then ice skating. When he went to ice, man, it was really quick and he was out of here. From what he talked about, he was a better skater than swimmer. I was like, ‘Well, if you’re a better skater than swimmer, then you really got something going on.’ “If he would have stayed with swimming, he would have been a national level swimmer, too,” Olszewski said. “He was a competitor. He lived to race.” Sounds like not much has changed. “He always had a flair,” Olszewski said “He’s always little on the edge. He looks a little different than everybody else. What you saw on the cover of Sports Illustrated, just looking at the photo, that’s his personality. The Sports Illustrated cover shows Ohno with a focused look on his face, his lycra speed skating uniform shredded. “Real competitive, real driven,” Olszewski said. “He walks to his own drummer.”

A link from Jaden. Bet you can't get guess who is #1 with a bullet!

Sexy Olympians 2002