Ohno Zone

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July 29, 2006

Deb's Hawaii report

Many thanks to Deb for sending in her report! It's too bad she wasn't able to get a pic, but knowing Deb, she'll keep these great memories with or without a photo! Deb has probably had farther to travel than anyone over the years in support of Apolo and short track, so it's great that this time she got to stay home! Here's Deb's report:

I made reservations for the Perry and Price Breakfast Show on Friday afternoon. Fortunately there was still a table for 4 available so I dragged my husband and children to see Apolo. We arrived at 08:00 AM and were seated at a table off to the right of the stage. I had never been to John Dominis before and I was struck by the wonderful view of Waikiki beach, Diamond Head and surfers riding the waves. Team Apolo bracelets and an Apolo portrait from the Olympics were handed out to everyone. As we were eating, around 08:40, I thought I spotted Apolo walking with his entourage to his table which was in a more private area on the opposite side of the restaurant.

Before Apolo went on, one of the guests on the show was a 12 year old girl who had leukemia when she was 4. There is a program that collects thank you letters from school children and she had written a thank you note to the doctor who saved her life. As a surprise, the show had flown the doctor from California to meet her. Apolo was going through the buffet line, and he stopped and watched while they were talking and you could tell he was very touched by the story.

Apolo was interviewed a little after 09:00. The Red Hat Ladies submitted a question about how long it takes to put on a skinsuit. Price asked Apolo about his ancestry (?) and he replied that yes, he was half Japanese. He then asked if his mother or father was Japanese (I’m thinking Isn’t Ohno a Japanese name?) but Apolo graciously answered. Then they asked what his other half was, and he said “Anglo”.

Apolo also said he is majoring in marketing and international business in school, and that everyone was so nice to him here in Hawaii. He joked about eating at Ono’s. “Ohno at Ono’s and it was ono.”

After that, Apolo went off to the waiting area where a large group of fans were waiting to meet him. Apolo was wearing a tasteful Aloha shirt and looked very handsome. He patiently took pictures and signed autographs. I talked to Kimo and Jan who were as warm as always and met some other fans. I am kind of shy, so I waited til the crowd died down and then asked him to sign my stuff. I brought my Journey book and Men’s Journal magazine for him to sign, as well as the photos they passed out to everyone. I don’t remember telling him my name, (I think Jan or Kimo told him) and he said” Oh, that is right, you live here” and signed his book to “Deb”. I chatted a little, and he seemed very happy and relaxed.

Usually I can’t get a word out, but he really put me at ease and I told him I hope he is enjoying his trip to Hawaii. I was going to shake his hand as I finished, but he gave me a hug instead. A short while later, my daughter passed by and I introduced her to Apolo. By that time my husband had gone back to his seat with the camera and so we could not take a picture, so Apolo grabbed a photo and asked my daughter how to spell her name, and signed a picture for her. He was amazingly warm and gracious and I was so happy to have had the opportunity to see him.

Sorry if my story is a bit disorganized, the OFF is still in effect. I want to thank Kimo and Jan for being Apolo’s hosts in Hawaii, and for the people in the background (you know who you are) who made Apolo’s visit to Hawaii such a success.

Posted by noelle at 11:45 PM | Comments (18)

Apolo in Hawaii - TV and radio coverage

Watch a snippet of Apolo's appearance at the state capitol here: KHNL - 8 on the Net
Click link for News 8 at 6 for Friday, July 28 (AAO segments are at the beginning and again at about 14:25 into the clip - thanks to Taryn for the link!)

Listen to Apolo's appearance on KSSK radio show here (thanks to Susie and Christy)

[update] Text of the proclamation of Apolo Anton Ohno Day in Hawaii is here (PDF).

Posted by noelle at 11:27 PM | Comments (5)

Ohno-licious, indeed

The Honolulu Advertiser has a terrific photo gallery featuring Apolo, his buddy Dave Creswell, and hosts Kimo and Jan eating at Ono restaurant yesterday.

Here are some of the shots. Complete gallery is here.

All photos by Photos by Joaquin Siopack, Honolulu Advertiser Staff Photographer

Posted by noelle at 10:16 AM | Comments (28)

More AAO in Hawaii!

Wow, Apolo is getting some awesome, fun press in Hawaii. Looks like he's having fun!!

Olympic gold medalist Apolo Anton Ohno outside Ono Hawaiian Food in Kapahulu, where he had lunch yesterday

photo by JOAQUIN SIOPACK | The Honolulu Advertiser

Honolulu Advertiser | Ohno finds lu'au food onolicious

Apolo Anton Ohno liked his kalua pig and squid lu'au when he tried Hawaiian food — at Ono Hawaiian Food, of course — during his first visit to Hawai'i for the 2006 Victor Awards, where he will receive honors.

After lunch, the short-track speed skater and five-time Olympic medalist talked story with Special Olympic athletes before Mayor Mufi Hannemann presented him with the key to the city.

"It feels really good," he said after being in town for a day. "I look forward to coming back."

What's in store for Ohno? "I'm still thinking about the possibility of competing again," he said.

Also: KHON2.com | Olympic gold medalist Apolo Ohno comes to Hawaii

Posted by noelle at 10:07 AM | Comments (8)

July 28, 2006

Listen live online to Apolo in Hawaii

Tomorrow morning Apolo we be a guest on the Perry and Price Breakfast Show on Hawaii radio station KSSK. You can listen to the station live on its web site, ksskradio.com. (Thanks to Taryn for the link!)

Apolo is scheduled to be on the show around 8:30am local time. Here are time zone conversions for the mainland U.S.:

2:30PM ET
1:30PM CT
12:30PM MT
11:30AM PT

Posted by noelle at 6:21 PM | Comments (8)

Hawaii coverage

[update] (courtesy of Taryn)
MidWeek.com | Apolo Ohno’s Golden Years

Awesome article, in which Apolo reveals he recently sat for a photo shoot by Annie Leibovitz for American Express & Bono's Product Red campaign, elaborates on his dinner at the White House and reveals that he's not training currently:

“I am definitely not in training,” he says with a chuckle. “I am far from training. I’ve been taking a big break, my first in eight years, and it feels good in some aspects. But also, me being a competitor, I want to stay fit, but I have been so busy traveling, making appearances and trying to get support for my dreams that it is hard to train.”

***

Honolulu Advertiser | OHNO TO BE HONORED

Apolo Anton Ohno, a five-time Olympic medalist in short track speedskating is making his first visit to Hawai'i this weekend to accept a Victor Award for his athletic accomplishments.

He will be given the key to the city by Mayor Mufi Hannemann and today will be declared Apolo Anton Ohno Day by Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona.

Ohno also is in town to promote his store, www.apoloantonohno.com.

The Victor Awards will be televised next month on Fox Sports Net West.

Posted by noelle at 12:44 PM | Comments (6)

July 25, 2006

Tiggie with the most handsome men in Seattle

Many thanks to Tiggie for sharing her beautiful souvenir photo from the Nikkei Concerns event, where she posed with Yuki and Apolo Ohno!

Posted by noelle at 10:19 PM | Comments (18)

New Executive Director for US Speedskating!

At last, the announcement has been made -- the new Exec. Director will be a former executive from US Figure Skating:

U.S. Speedskating Hires New Executive Director

Westlake, Ohio --- U.S. Speedskating is proud to announce that Robert T. Crowley has been named as the new Executive Director for the organization. Crowley served as the Associate Executive Director for US Figure Skating for more than 11 years and brings a wealth of National Governing Body experience to his new position with U.S. Speedskating.

“Bob brings to U.S. Speedskating the experience, enthusiasm and the expertise in the areas that we need most at this time in the evolution of our sport and for our organization,” says Brad Goskowicz, President of U.S. Speedskating. “We have some significant challenges ahead of us and believe that Crowley’s leadership will help guide us to greater organizational efficiencies.”

“I am honored to have been selected as Executive Director,” says Crowley. “U.S. Speedskating has such a rich history and tradition of Olympic success and it is our hope to build on that success. I understand the urgency in completing the four-year High Performance Plan, to establish our National Headquarters in a new city, to solidify our athlete agreements, to build our sponsor arrangements and to augment our grassroots programs. We will be very busy.”

More here and here

[update 1] Cleveland Plain Dealer | U.S. Speedskating may leave Westlake

"The folks in Salt Lake City would love to have us, and they have an oval where our athletes already train. Milwaukee and Colorado Springs also have expressed interest."

[update 2] Salt Lake Tribune | Return of ice to bring elite

Salt Lake is considered a leading candidate to become speedskating's new headquarters' city because of the oval's world-class facilities and the support that can be provided by The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital, whose new medical director is Eric Heiden, winner of five gold medals in speedskating at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.

Posted by noelle at 1:03 PM | Comments (31)