Many thanks to Dian for this bounty.
The pre-Raphaelite series, Indianapolis, August 13, 2002

Here are transcripts from the Indiana news interviews. Thanks again to Dian.

Interview 1:

Q: Winter sports are your thing. How is it now that your back training?
Well I'm training hard about 6 hours a day 6 days a week. I used to travel alot more doing appearances but travelling is hard on the body so now I do them on weekends only.

Interview 2:

Q: Why are you here?
I'm here for the extreme sports we have everything here today weather permitting. This is sponsored by Voice - young teens battling against big tobacco companies.

Q: What is your message to them?
Use sports as an outlet. .... These guys chose this path and I chose mine. Sports definitely can lead you where you want to go. Sports definitely lead me in the direction I wanted to be in.

Q: How has life changed for you?
It's crazy. I get recognized everywhere which is great everyone congratulates me and they're so genuine it makes me feel good.

Q: What is your secret to success?
I don't know. I've had my downfalls too. I haven't been straight as an arrow that's for sure but this has shaped me as a person and built my character. I wouldn't change anything in the past because its made me what I am today. I'm so grateful for alot of things that happened to me to make me as strong as I am.

Here the interviewer tells everyone what a great role model and how humble AAO is. His answer - a beaming smile and a simple "Thank you very much".

Interview three (response to why are you here?):

Sports in general lured me away from lots of temptations. I could have gone on a different path in my life. Sports has shown me a different way of life and changed me as a person, changed my character; so I owe alot to my own sport. So, hopefully kids can use it as a positive influence. Having a smoke free day is awesome.

Worldshorttrack.com
I'd like to bring to your attention this wonderful new site devoted to comprehensive coverage of short track speedskating around the world. It's a much-needed resource for the international short track community, fans and athletes alike.

Jennifer, who earlier shared these wonderful photos from the Indiana State Fair, has sent her account of the VIP event with Apolo:

The VIP meet and greet at the State Fair was GREAT! Apolo seemed a bit hesitant, but friendly when he first came in. Poor guy probably didn't know what to expect from a bunch of Hoosiers at the State Fair. I did my best to play it cool and not jump all over him as soon as he walked in the door.

The photos of him listening and then laughing are actually a few minutes apart. There were only about 20 people in the room, so we got to ask questions. In the first photo, that guy with him asks if anyone has a question for Apolo. We were all a bit shy to be the first to speak out, so nobody said anything at first. There were some teenage girls in the corner in the direction Apolo is looking, and the security guy said something like, "I know you have a question for Apolo. You want to know if he has a girlfriend." The girls giggled and Apolo said that no he did not. The security guy then said, "He's keeping his options open, though" and Apolo laughed (very cute shot!) Anyway, then I asked him about the World Cup in Salt Lake City, and already reported his positive response about being there.

About the photo with the woman holding a baggie. She’s somehow associated with the Indiana Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Agency, which sponsored the VOICE show. Anyway, she's holding a baggie with a small "soul patch" with REAL hair (an imitation of AAO's, of course). A friend of hers made it as a joke, but wouldn't let her wear it. He got a real kick out of it and yelled at the woman, Jennifer, who works for the talent agency that represents him, to look at it. The woman who brought the fake soul patch said that she hoped that he wasn't offended by the joke, and he said no way and laughed.

Apolo seemed genuinely touched by our interest in him and paid individual attention to each person for whom he signed an autograph. It probably helped that there were so few of us, compared to later, after the event. Unlike at SportsFest, I held back and let others get in line in front of me, so I could collect my thoughts. I didn't come up with anything clever to say, though. I just don't perform well under pressure, I guess.

I didn't get a hug like some other young ladies who I've read about online, but I did get to put my arm around him twice (yes, I said twice). After I got that first photo taken with him, someone made a comment about backlighting from the window behind Apolo and they closed the blinds. Being the pushy broad that I am, I asked if I could get a second photo taken, as I was concerned the first might not come out.

When I gave him my photo from when I met him at SportsFest, he seemed pleased that I'd gone up there to see him, as well. I don't remember his exact words, but it was something like, "Oh, you were there, too?" Yuki is in the photo, as well, and he turned to the guy with him and said excitedly "Look, here's my dad." I also asked him to sign a second item for a friend, and he said, "Cool."

Speaking of cool, boy was he a good sport to stay out in the rain for 10-15 minutes before they brought the event to a halt. Then, he had to sit and sign autographs for well over an hour after getting soaked. Despite all that, it sounds like he was very gracious to everyone who stopped by for an autograph (I've heard estimates of 250+ people), especially the little kids. I felt this event really highlighted what I like about Apolo – he’s always so gracious about his newfound fame, even when it’s not particularly convenient.

Only on Ohno Zone: Jeff Allred has blessed us with more of his masterpieces

SPOILERS GO HERE: Discuss Apolo's book here, for those who have received it, and those who want tidbits in advance

To continue the theme, screen shots from a nameless friend...

Jena fetched us the flier from Barnes & Noble announcing Apolo's book signing on Sept. 30

Lucinda sends details on Apolo's Sept. 28 appearance at the Rite Aid Health & Beauty Expo at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan

Apolo will be there in the morning of Sept 28th, doing a talk show setting in where he is seated up on stage with an interviewer and asked questions. After which he will go and sign autographs directly off stage. He is going to be interviewed 2, repeat two, different times. Each being followed by an autograph/picture session. It's unclear at this time whether or not the audience will be able to ask any questions. Here are the times...first interview is scheduled to start @ 11:10am it will last appox 15-30 minutes, and then of course the autograph session will last appox 30 minutes afterwards. The second interview is scheduled to start @12:50pm and last about the same amount of time. What is going to be discussed, I have no idea. Also, a little side note, the director mentioned Apolo's contract states he is obligated to at least a 30 min autograph session but will most likely sign until everyone has had a turn. (or 2 or 3) =) So by far, this is the appearance to go to! You get the entire morning, 2 different autograph sessions and a talk show forum! Good God! Talk about Apolo overload!

Jeff Allred of the Deseret News recounts his experience photographing Apolo:

I was assigned to photograph Apolo and the other American skaters that were training at the Utah Olympic Oval near Salt Lake City for their upcoming competition. I arrived late due to another assignment but got some images of Apolo on his last 2 or 3 laps. After he finished his skating workout, Apolo took off his helmet, unzipped his skinsuit, and was just cooling off while he joked around with his teamates as they warmed down. The team seemed to get along really well with each other and it was pretty apparent looking at Apolo. Apolo and the other team members also removed the protective wall padding from the ice which I thought was a pretty humble thing to do especially after Ohno had just won a Gold and Silver. The only other image I have of the event is Ohno skating away with the wall pads.

From Elisa


Apolo Anton Ohno takes off from the starting line during the second preliminary heat of the 2002 Winter Olympics 500 meter short track speedskating competition, Saturday, February 23, at the Salt Lake Ice Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

You-know-what, from Joanna!

Another awesome animation from April

Here is a pre-Olympic article courtesy of Miss Yano.
Eric Heiden on Apolo Anton Ohno

Terry (the luckiest woman on earth) has posted her experiences of attending training camp in Salt Lake City alongside Apolo and the short and long track teams over at AAO-The One and Only. Read all about it!

From the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:

It's football season, right?
Last we checked it’s football season. That said, why in the name of Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala is Apolo Anton Ohno at No. 10 on Lycos.com’s list of the most-searched athletes for the week ending Aug. 31? Nowhere in the top 10 list will you find a football player.... What gives?

1. Anna Kournikova (1)
2. Serena Williams (-)
3. Jelena Dokic (3)
4. Michael Jordan (8)
5. Daniela Hantuchova (5)
6. Martina Hingis (4)
7. Allen Iverson (7)
8. David Beckham (2)
9. Venus Williams (-)
10. Apolo Anton Ohno (-)

Okay, OZers - who wants to clue him in?

Here's the link to watch the video from which I took the screen grabs below. Remember to select your media player and connection speed.

And click here to read OZers' comments from the first time around!

Study in screen shots - what can I say? I couldn't choose just one!