Yes, the Training Center address you have for Apolo is correct and is the best place to send fan mail. Apolo is extremely busy, but makes every effort to reply to his dedicated fans. As for gifts, unfortunately, due to security reasons, Apolo cannot receive any gifts. Its so nice of his fans to think of him, though.
The address: Apolo Anton Ohno US Olympic Training Center One Olympic Plaza Colorado Springs, CO 80909
Ohno an outstanding role model I am 53 and have a new hero. He is Apolo Anton Ohno. I hope his magnificent display of maturity and sportsmanship makes an impact on today's youth. He fulfills his need for personal expression without tattoos and piercings and displays excellent manners and demeanor in interviews. (Okay, so maybe a couple extra "you knows" but so what?) No whining, pure joy at making a good effort and quiet acceptance of things that happen beyond our control. What a champion. -- Scotty Hubbard, Dunnellon
posted by noelle . |
9:56 PM
Monday, August 05, 2002
Okay, Hoosiers! You're in luck.
Indiana State Fair - VOICE Xtreme Air Show: If you're into extreme sports, then you won't want to miss this show, which features performances and autograph sessions with medal-winning Olympic athletes, including Short Track speedskating gold medallist Apolo Anton Ohno. The show will be Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 1 p.m. in the Marsh Grandstand. Experts will show off their skills in BMX, skateboarding, snowboarding (without snow), aerial ski jumping and other extreme sports while also encouraging young people to live tobacco-free lifestyles.
Anonymous bestows her bounty on us once more. Our in-house counsel asked that we include this caveat:
WARNING: Push yourself away from your desk!! I don't want you to hit your head on the table when you faint. You want forearm veins...you got forearm veins!! Yeah Baby!!
As you probably gathered, I went to the Universal Amphitheater in hopes of seeing Apolo at the Teen Choice Awards. I didn't buy tickets because they were $60 for the very worst seats. When I got there, there was no red carpet so my friends and I were really bummed out. Then, I get a call on my cell from *Tiggie*. She tells me that the celebrities are not arriving in the front and only ticketholders get to see them. At this point, I was pretty devastated. Then Tiggie tells me that it is possible to be a seat filler so me and my friends haul ass over to the back entrance and beg the people to let us in. They asked us for ID and parent consent. WE HAD NEITHER!!! So they were like, "Are you 18?" and they joked around with us and said my friend looked 12 and my other friend showed her driver's license so they relented and slapped wrist bands on us. I ALMOST PEED MY PANTS RIGHT THERE!!!! We lined up with the rest of the seat fillers. Most of them were dressed in beach attire, so I guess they knew about this ahead of time. Man, we were hella lucky to have gotten in cuz we were the LAST ONES!! And we didn't have to do anything! At first I thought the people just picked who got to go in, but later I found out that all the seatfillers were guaranteed to get in. AHHHHH. We got in and sat in the VERY last row, which they called the "holding area". The people who dressed up all crazy got to go in the pit. Since we didn't know about it, we were dressed casual.
When they announced the nominees for the Choice Male Athlete, it was Shaq, Kobe and Apolo. This was a tough category for me because being from LA, I love Shaq (BIG NASTY!), I adore Kobe, and Apolo -- no explaination necessary. Kobe won (of course) and he wore Shaq's jersey so that was toooooo cute. Then, after an hour into the show, Apolo came out with Tara Lipinski and some other guy to present the Choice TV Comedy award. HIS HAIR WAS IN CORN ROWS and he wore a black tank top and baby blue windbreaker pants. *WHEW* I was still in the very back row but I yelled at the TOP of my lungs, "APOLO -- I LOVE YOU!!!!!!" [btw, i was the only one cheering for him! nobody knew who he was so i hope he heard me] The Bernie Mac Show won and the little girl from Bernie Mac was like "I want to thank Jesus, and my sister.." IT WAS THE CUTEST THING EVER!!! And Apolo was totally smiling at that. Then the chick FINALLY called us to go fill some seats! =) I wanted to get down there before Apolo left the stage but I couldn't. I got seated in the 7th row [the Universal Amphitheater is soo small, so it was frigging close]. I was looking for Apolo every where but couldn't find him [contrary to popular belief, the celebs do not stay in their seats for the entire show. They just come out to sit a few minutes before they get their award and then leave] Tobey McGuire sat 2 rows in front of me, and Sarah Michelle Gellar, 3 rows. Nelly and the St Lunatics were kinda far away but Ja Rule was close and so was Britney Spears. Tobey was kinda annoyed at people who went up to him. Anyway, towards the end of the show, APOLO COMES BACK OUT and sits 2 rows in back of me, on the other side of the aisle. I had such a clear view of him! I screamed, APOLO!!! and he looked straight at me, and I waved to him and then sat back down [I know I should've said something but I was soooo embarrassed] This chick sitting in back of him got to take a picture with him. Lucky girl! I got some pix -- I hope they were good. I don't think he liked me taking pictures of him! And this was the biggest disappointment -- right as the show ended, he zoomed out of his seat sooo fast, I didn't know WHAT the hell happened. So I got only 3 pix [if that] and my friend who was sitting in back of him took some pix for me. [Sorry for the editorializing but..] I dunno if Apolo really doesn't enjoy meeting fans or if he was afraid for he would get mobbed but he just took off. But I was really freaking out cuz I got to see him again -- I wish I had the opportunity to say hi and tell him I wanted him to win, but at least I got into the TCAs for FREE! (IM SO GLAD I DIDN'T BUY TICKETS!!!!) and got to see him, and I made eye contact with him.. he really is gorgeous! Oh yeah, and I made eye contact with Tobey Mcguire too.. his big gray/blue eyes are just mesmerizing! Sorry my encounters are always soo boring -- unlike you crazy daring girls like Molly, Sami and Kati, Abigail and of course Kimo and Jan. But hopefully, my pictures will make up for my lameness. I really want to thank TIGGIE and Abigail -- if it weren't for them, I'd be sitting outside the Amphitheater picking my nose, not knowing what the hell to do. Thank you guys soo much -- this was one of the best experiences of my life. (Sorry this is soo ghetto) but I also want to throw a shout out to my best friend Sandy and Annie for being my girls and going with me -- I love you guys soo much! Look for me on TV everybody (AUGUST 19 on FOX -- the stupid announcer made us repeat that 5 times!)
posted by noelle . |
9:12 AM
Sunday, August 04, 2002
My mom was inspired while musing on our golden boy to write a little poem called "Why Do Moms Love Apolo?" She wanted me to share it with the OZ. She said she wrote it as a tribute to Apolo from moms everywhere, and wants everyone to feel free to share it.
Why Do Moms Love Apolo
In these days of change and uncertainty it is enheartening to see A young man coming up with integrity and desire to be the best he can be.
He's an example to our sons of commitment to excellence and a role model of masculine qualities for our daughters to admire.
Apolo When we saw your grace under pressure and what you exuded of patience and the sheer joy of being an Olympic athlete we smiled and said, "That's how it should be!"
We admire you for noticing small acts of kindness, not taking for granted the love of your fans For treasuring small heart gifts and large expressions of exuberance.
We're just glad we can celebrate with you and know that we touch your heart too.
We notice when you honor your father and that means a lot to moms, you know.
The ways that he nurtured and raised you are shouted loud and clear in the way you respect others and revel in the joy of living each day.
Every word and action of Yuki had an impact and now you live the life he envisioned as only a dad can.
Thanks to you, Apolo and Yuki, we see in you family and fun, respect and commitment to what's really of value.
And we will be watching you as you continue your adventure and cheering you on with our kids!
Thanks for visiting OHNO ZONE: Web resources for fans of Apolo Anton Ohno with the latest Ohno news, competition info, photos, appearances and more. Most of our photos,
fan encounters and comments are contributed by visitors. Many thanks to everyone who has contributed so far!
- Todd & Noelle
Comments by: YACCS
