Ohno Zone: February 26, 2006 - March 4, 2006 Archives

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March 4, 2006

Alex Izy's homecoming [updated]

Bay City Times | Izykowski finally returns to an adoring hometown
Alex has donated his share of the prize money from winning the bronze medal to a Bay County community foundation that helps support aspiring Olympians. Nice!

Thanks to Nicole in Bay City, MI for sharing her photos from Bay City's welcome home celebration for Alex Izykowski! Man, I bet Izy sleeps with that medal on. I know I would!

Izy Pop and Alex

Alex holds up his bronze medal

The Izy family: Morgan, Al, Alex, Joann

Nicole, who I remember from 3 years ago in Bay City!

Posted by noelle at 3:52 PM | Comments (20)

March 3, 2006

Ohno Zone Anniversary Video

Click image to watch video

Ohno Zone enters its FIFTH year online this month! It's hard to believe what a long way we've come. To celebrate, one of our longtime OZers, a true pillar of the short track community, has put together this trip down memory lane in tribute to our first four years. Watching it definitely brought many tears to my eyes! Much gratitude to this anonymous contributor for the time and love that went into the creation.

Note to our newcomers: Many of you will have the good fortune to meet Apolo in the coming weeks and months. You're invited to send in photos to share with your fellow OZers and Apolo fans. We'll post them for all to enjoy in a tradition that began 4 years ago (check out the archives!) and include your photos with Apolo and/or Yuki in the Ohno Zone Friends & Family photo gallery.

The video creatrix sent me this blurb to post:
"This is my thanks to the OZ community for four wonderful years. Thanks to Todd, who started this site, to Noelle, who works so hard every day to give information we can't find anywhere else, to the fans, who keep this place alive, to the skaters who are inspirations to us every day, and to Apolo, who brought us all here together. Happy Anniversary, OZ!"

Posted by noelle at 1:57 PM | Comments (122)

Upcoming Apolo appearances

Ohno will make a special appearance at the Roots store in Beverly Hills Sat., March 4, 2006. Ohno will sign autographs at the store in the afternoon, and meet his many devoted fans and members of the media. Details

WHEN: Saturday, March 4, 2006, 2-4pm
WHERE: Roots - 371 North Beverly Drive; Los Angeles

In addition, Apolo will attend the Oscars on Sunday and will be a guest on AOL's Sports Bloggers Live program on Monday (listen live at 7pm ET).

Posted by noelle at 11:21 AM | Comments (129)

March 2, 2006

Photos from the men's relay medal ceremony in Torino

Click here to see the entire gallery.

Alex Izy throws his bouquet to his mom in stands

The Canadian men show off their medals

Posted by noelle at 10:33 PM | Comments (20)

Jay Leno and Ellen!

How great was Apolo's appearance on Leno!? It trips me out that 5 days ago he and his teammates were walking out of drug testing, and now he's in LA schmoozing with Jay and Salma Hayek!

Apolo is definitely more comfortable in the limelight than he was 4 years ago on Leno. One thing hasn't changed - loads of girls were screaming for him in the audience, and I hear at least a couple OZers made it there! Share your thoughts in the comments!

Posted by noelle at 10:28 PM | Comments (127)

Anthony Lobello switching to long track

Tallahassee Democrat | Lobello to switch to long track speedskating

Anthony's hometown paper reports that after Torino, he plans to switch from short track to long track. Unfortunately, Anthony didn't have the best Olympic experience. As the least experienced member of the U.S. team, he sat on the sidelines while his teammates skated to bronze medals in the relay. Anthony had unexpectedly qualified to skate individually in Torino but was unable to make it out of his opening 500m heat.

We wish him all the best!

Posted by noelle at 10:19 PM | Comments (11)

News roundup [updated]

Bay City Times | Cheer here: Izy's Olympic whirlwind hits Bay City on Saturday
Welcome home, Izy! And don't forget to bring your OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDAL! ;)

Donga.com | Olympic Girlfriend Tops Web Search List

Awesome - we get to learn about Hyun-soo Ahn's girlfriend:

She was upset when she heard a press report suggest Lee Ho-suk â€œyieldedâ€ the gold medal to Ahn. â€œThere is no â€˜yieldingâ€™ in the Olympics. Team members look out for each other, but each of them race to win,â€ she said.
Near the end of the interview, her cell phone rang: it was a call from Torino. â€œHe saw my homepage. He said he still canâ€™t believe heâ€™s a celebrity,â€ Shin said.

Richmond Times Dispatch | Behind the scenes, Barger relishes view of Olympics

Barger would rather remember how cooperative speedskater Apolo Ohno was after his 1,500 short track failure.

"He wasn't whining or crying about it, or trying to blame anyone else. He simply shouldered the blame and said he planned to do better. That's a refreshing change from a good number of professional athletes I've talked to over the years," Barger said.

He'll remember the way Ohno and his bronze-medal-winning teammates "tore into several boxes of pizza after the event. Because of their training regimen, none of them had eaten pizza in over a year. They oohed and aahed as if they had been served a five-star gourmet meal."

Brookline Tab | Dan Weinstein skating to new level
Dan is a former teammate of Apolo's and commentated short track for NBC alongside Ted Robinson. I'm bummed not to have met him in Torino!

"The Associated Press report named Weinstein's commentary a highlight of NBC's Olympic coverage." Congrats Dan - great job!

Chosun Ilbo | Why Are Korean Short-Track Skaters so Good?
Only 420 registered short track skaters in South Korea? I'm skeptical!

Gaylord (MI) Herald Times | Izy brings home Olympic bronze from Torino

Hartford Courant | Oh, Yes: Ohno, Cheek To Grace Wheaties Box

Posted by noelle at 7:40 AM | Comments (60)

March 1, 2006

Jimmy Jang is my hero!

I was already a big fan, because Jimmy's a wild and crazy guy who wears his heart on his sleeve. But now he's a hero in my book, for daring to speak the truth to the Korean press!

donga.com | Coach: â€˜Ohno Has Buried the Hatchetâ€™

- States what most observers believe, that the Korean team skated cleanly and without team tactics in Torino
- Talked about the long history of team skating in Korea that he contended with in his own competitive days
- Says Ohno did nothing wrong in 2002 and it's time for Koreans to stop blaming him for Kim Dong-sung losing the 1500m gold
- Tells stories that show Apolo's respect for Korean culture
- Dong-sung is seeking a coaching position in the U.S. -- with the national team. Fascinating!

"At the end of the hour-and-a-half interview, [Jang] said, 'If I say this, I will be a traitor in Korea,' and asked for the Korean skating community to change."

Jimmy Jang celebrates the U.S. men's relay bronze in Torino on Feb. 25

(Newcomers: Jimmy Jang is one of the U.S. national team coaches, based in Marquette, MI)

Posted by noelle at 3:57 PM | Comments (54)

2006 World Championships Yahoo planning group

Yano has graciously stepped up to create a Yahoo group you can join to help plan your trip to Worlds, set up meetings, trade travel tips, share info, etc. You can ask and answer all your questions in one easy location! Sign up here.

Posted by noelle at 2:39 PM | Comments (15)

Apolo to appear on Ellen DeGeneres Friday

In addition to his previously announced appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Apolo will also be on Ellen DeGeneres Friday! Woo hoo. I hope she makes him dance!

Posted by noelle at 2:27 PM | Comments (51)

Wheaties honors Olympic Champion APOLO ANTON OHNO!

[update] Click here for video of the Wheaties box unveiling

AWESOME, AWESOME NEWS! Wheaties has honored the two greatest American champions of the Torino games: Apolo Ohno and Joey Cheek with the ultimate in athletic recognition - the front of the Wheaties box!

This is a great honor and a huge thrill. Apolo's reaction:

"Every young athlete strives to one day see himself on the Wheaties box," Ohno said. "For me, this proves that all of the hard work and training has paid off. I remember reading the stories of the great American champions who were on the box when I was growing up, and now it's very gratifying for me to be a part of that same Wheaties tradition."

"American sports fans witnessed many compelling performances over the past two weeks, but Apolo and Joey really distinguished themselves with their outstanding efforts," said Wheaties Marketing Manager Eric Treschuk.

"All of our athletes performed well, and we applaud their efforts," Treschuk said. "At the same time, we feel Apolo and Joey represent the very best of the championship ideals that have made Wheaties 'The Breakfast of Champions' for 80 years. Their passion, commitment and conduct have inspired us all."
The soon-to-be-released 18-ounce packages will be available nationally beginning in the middle of March.

Full press release

I just had a funny feeling this was bound to happen. Congratulations, Apolo and Joey!

Posted by noelle at 9:20 AM | Comments (57)

February 28, 2006

Final competitions of the season

There are two major competitions left in the short track season and lucky for us, they both take place in North America!

1. The World Team Championships take place March 25 and 26 in Montreal at the Canadian team's home base. Montreal is particularly convenient for residents of the northeastern U.S. and it's a short track-lovin' town so the crowd will be into it! You'll find details about the event and how to purchase tickets at the official World Teams web site.

2. The following week the World Championships will be held in Minneapolis over three days, March 31-April 2. This is the most important event on the short track calendar outside of the Olympic Games. Information about the Worlds and how to purchase tickets is available on the official Worlds web site.

Many OZers have already made plans to attend. I encourage anyone who can make the trip to GO GO GO! This is your chance to see the stars of Torino (as well as future stars) compete one last time before the season ends -- and make merry with fellow fans. Newcomers are welcome!

As exciting as the Olympic short track races were on TV, it doesn't compare to the exhilaration of experiencing the races in person. You feel the breeze created when skaters glide past, get ice chips in your face and hear the hiss of blades carving the ice at close range. And you get to yell your head off with thousands of other crazy fans!

After the last Olympics, World Championships and World Team Championships were also held in North America. Many of the fans who attended those events have gone on to become some of the most enthusiastic members of the short track community.

I'm sure some of them can tell you that to this day they're glad they attended those events where they got to see some great racing and meet a number of skaters in person. I didn't attend (I thought it would be crazy to fly halfway across the country to watch short track - ha!).

So if you can swing it, go -- it's a long wait till the next short track season begins! I hope to see some of you there.

Posted by noelle at 10:02 PM | Comments (59)

Photos from Apolo's 500m medal ceremony in Torino

Not too much new here from what I've already posted, but I wanted to collect the photos into a single gallery. Click here to see them.

Posted by noelle at 9:18 PM | Comments (14)

Q&A part two

Q: How can I write to Apolo?
A: You can write to Apolo at this address:
Apolo Anton Ohno
US Olympic Training Center
One Olympic Plaza
Colorado Springs, CO 80909

Q: Do you know where I can get items featuring Apolo?
A: Apolo's official store on ApoloAntonOhno.com will be up and running by next week, so look for some great items featuring Apolo! I'll be sure to make an announcement when the store launches.

Q: Will Apolo compete in the World Championships in Minneapolis next month?

Click below for more

A: I don't know. I'm not sure if he knows yet! Please don't base your decision on that. I promise, you'll be glad you went, whether Apolo is there or not!

Q: What can you tell us about Apolo's romantic life?
A: Not much, since I don't know anything about it - it would all be speculation. It's up to him if he wants to go public about that. Apolo is a pretty private person and so far he has chosen not to.

Q: How does seeing short track at the Olympics compare to other events you go to?
A: Overall, the Olympics are completely different - much larger venue, many more spectators, infinitely more media. For me, that meant I can spend more time just watching the races and enjoying the spectacle because the TV crews and professional photographers and reporters are there. Personally, I saw nothing to be gained by hanging out in the mixed zone (the reporters who did that largely missed the races anyway.) There is nothing like hearing the roar of the crowd at the Olympics and the excitement and energy on the part of spectators and skaters alike are unequalled.

While I wouldn't have missed this experience for the world, esp. seeing Apolo get his gold and the U.S. men get their relay bronze, I am glad it's only once every four years. I think that overall, I prefer the intimacy and charm of a plain old World Cup or national championships.

Posted by noelle at 9:04 PM | Comments (9)

Apolo to appear on Jay Leno show Thursday, March 2

Thanks for everyone who's brought this to my attention!

I checked in with Apolo's agent today about other possible appearances. Right now they're in the middle of getting things scheduled and it's pretty hectic. So be prepared for more TV appearances by Apolo - we may or may not get notice of them but I'll post anything I find out about.

Posted by noelle at 1:19 PM | Comments (89)

February 27, 2006

Latest links

I'm sure the press coverage will die down... eventually!

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | U.S. skaters see need for change
Whither US Speedskating?

Korea Times | Rewriting Olympic History
The Seoul Times | S. Korea Dominates Short Track Again
donga.com | World Lauds Koreaâ€™s Short-Track Skills
'The Korean national team has been credited with inventing various new skating techniques that have become the norm nowadays, such as the â€œblade push [at the finish line]â€; â€œgourd-shape curvingâ€; and â€œone-legged skating.â€ '

Anyone can explain what these techniques are that they're talking about? Likewise, what's the 'factional rivalry' all about (mentioned in all three links - it's like, suddenly the truth can be told?).

Reuters | Short track skating-Sacrifices turn to gold for Ohno

Calgary Sun | Scolded skater finds podium
I think the Canadians also had a lot of pressure on them at these Games...

Newhouse News | Ohno Understands What Bode Will Never Know

Midland Daily News | MSSC has history, future of breeding Olympic hopefuls

Bay City Times | Memories cast in bronze

China Daily | Search begins for new skating stars

Reuters | Only Ohno, Wang breach Korea

Posted by noelle at 9:45 PM | Comments (74)

Back home! (and Q&A part 1)

Wow, what an exhilarating time here on OZ! Thanks again to everyone, newcomer, lurker and old-timer alike, who's made OZ hop for the past month during the Olympics. Sharing the experience with everyone makes it all more meaningful.

While I was gone a lot of newcomers to OZ have asked questions, either in comments or by emailing me. Hopefully I've remembered what they all were. Here are some answers for the curious!

Q: How did you get involved with Apolo/short track?

Click below to read more

A: Same way you did! I was glued to my TV during the 2002 Games because I've always been an Olympics junkie. But Apolo touched something in me beyond the usual spark of interest - just as he did with so many others! Over time I became more and more involved with running this site and that cemented my addiction, along with getting to see short track in person for the first time at the end of 2002.

Q: How did you get to go behind the scenes at the Olympics?
A: I was lucky enough to get a media credential for Torino. The credential was assigned to my company and they hadn't really figured out what to do with it. Since I was going anyway, and had a lot of experience covering short track over the years, they assigned the credential to me and I also helped them out with their Olympics coverage while I was over there.

Q: So are you a journalist in real life?
A: No - but my day job is actually pretty similar to the work I do on OZ -- I work with online content at my company, but it has nothing to do with Apolo, short track, or even sports! Because of that though, I'm online pretty much 24/7 which makes it somewhat easier to maintain this site. Plus, since OZ is one of the only media outlets that follows short track year in and year out, I am able to get media credentials for domestic and international events like World Cups and national championships.

Q: What kind of camera do you use?
I have a Nikon D70 with a Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8 telephoto zoom lens that I use to shoot short track - this is the basics for what you need to stop action in a low-light indoor rink environment. I love my camera! And the light at the Palavela in Torino was incredible. For the first time ever I actually had a problem with over-exposed short track photos.

Q: Do you know Apolo personally?
I do know Apolo personally and many OZ fans know or have had the pleasure of meeting him personally! He's proven great at remembering names and faces over the years, it's quite impressive. I wish I was as good at putting names and faces together!

Q: Did you see other team members or skaters besides Apolo?
Yes, I briefly ran into Rusty Smith at the mall one day (it's attached to the press center and connected to the Olympic Village by a bridge) and saw all the guys after their relay and had a quick chat with Alex Izykowski and Halie Kim that night. I also saw most of the Canadian team, and caught up with old friends on the Australian team the final night (finally! normally they are the first skaters I run into at any event!).

Okay, that's it for now (jetlag)... I'll post some more Q&A tomorrow!

Posted by noelle at 5:58 PM | Comments (30)

AAO at closing ceremonies

Yipee!

Speedskater Apolo Ohno exits Stadio Olimpico with Team USA after the Olympics' closing ceremony Sunday in Turin, Italy. photo by DEAN RUTZ / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Posted by noelle at 5:06 PM | Comments (43)

February 26, 2006

Bye, Torino

Thanks for the AWESOME memories!

See all you OZers when I get back home to the States. Thanks to everyone who has read or commented over the past 16 days... and thanks in particular to those who've been with us over the past four years. This week marks our four-year anniversary. Incredible!

So thanks most of all to Apolo, the athlete who inspired us all.

Posted by noelle at 6:08 PM | Comments (93)

Winners of the unofficial 'Win a Taste of Torino' contest!

Congratulations to Chris McLaughlin, the clear grand prize winner in our chocolate giveaway contest! Chris managed to correctly guess 6 of the 9 medalists and their placing in last night's short track competition in Torino.

Runners up are the winners of each event:

Men's 500m: Nobody who entered guessed all three medalists correctly! We had a 9-way tie in this category. Using the winning relay time of 6:43.376 as a tiebreaker, this prize goes to Suzanne K in Minnesota!

Women's 1000m: Nobody managed to guess all three medalists correctly in this category either, but among the four who got 2 of 3 medalists correct, Sonia in Cali maintains her winning ways in short track contests by taking this category!

Men's relay: Lots of strong competition here - five of you guessed the correct combination of medalists. So it again comes down to a tiebreaker and this one was won by Steph in Texas.

Many thanks to all who played... it was fun to receive and read the entries. Prizewinners - please send me your mailing addresses so I can get your prizes to you after I get back home this week.

Posted by noelle at 5:39 PM | Comments (9)