October 26, 2004
USA Today names Apolo Ohno its Athlete of the Week
USA Today | Ohno back in the front of the pack
Despite the flocks of adoring fans, it's not always easy to be Apolo Anton Ohno. 
His sport, short-track speedskating, is unpredictable and sometimes dangerous. Death threats forced him to withdraw from a 2003 World Cup meet in South Korea, where bitterness over a controversial refereeing decision in the 2002 Olympics runs deep. He won the 2003 World Cup championship but slipped to third last year. He had a terrible time at the World Championships in March, missing the final in each event.
This season, Ohno couldn't have asked for a better start. The 22-year-old skater took overall honors at the World Cup season opener in Harbin, China, with victories at 500 and 1,500 meters. Ohno advanced to the final of each race, also placing second in the 3,000 and fourth in the 1,000.
For his efforts in showing that he's ready to return to his days of dominance in short-track skating, Ohno is USATODAY.com's U.S. Olympic Athlete of the Week.
Also in China, Rusty Smith advanced to two finals, placing third in the 500 and sixth in the 3,000. He also ranked eighth in the 1,500. Smith, Ohno, Shani Davis and J.P. Kepka reached the final in the 5,000-meter relay but were disqualified.
Allison Baver reached two finals, placing second in the 3,000 and sixth in the 1,500. She also ranked sixth in the 1,000.
image by Mark Duncan, AP
Posted by noelle at 12:39 PM Comments (11)
October 15, 2004
'I love everything sports stand for' --Apolo Anton Ohno
Here's a little treat from McDonald's and Sports Illustrated, called Hangin' With Apolo Ohno. This 'special advertising section' in the Oct. 18 issue of SI features an interview with Apolo -- it's actually better than what 'real' interviews often manage.
There is some new information in here, with Apolo discussing his 2002 visit to his grandparents in Japan, plus Apolo's top music and sports movie picks. Hats off to McDonalds!
(Click the image for a full-size scan of the interview.)
Posted by noelle at 10:09 AM Comments (11)
September 13, 2004
USAFE Tour Report
APOLO ANTON OHNO SKATES HIS WAY ONTO U.S. AIR FORCE BASES
Apolo meets with some of the children of U.S. servicemen and women serving in Europe (click for a larger version of this photo)
September 8, 2004 - Olympic Speed Skater Apolo Anton Ohno took time out of his busy schedule last month to visit servicemen, servicewomen and their families overseas at US Air Force bases throughout Europe. Apolo’s tour was part of a program called Extreme Summer, thanks in part to the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). The Extreme Summer program was created to bring over positive role models to provide entertainment for the troops and their families. Apolo visited bases in England, Norway and Germany from August 2 through August 11.
Officers practice their interrogation techniques on Apolo
During the tour, Apolo had the opportunity to meet and talk with many of the folks who are serving our country overseas. Apolo signed autographs, posed for pictures, answered questions, and even had the opportunity to show off his speed skating skills. Twice, Apolo had the chance to hit the ice and show everyone what made him an Olympic Gold Medalist.
Apolo demonstrates his ice skills at Garmisch in Germany
Apolo Anton Ohno’s overseas tour was coordinated and managed by Pittsburgh-based sports and entertainment marketing agency Koeberle & Associates. Koeberle & Associates specializes in matching athletes and celebrities with corporations and organizations for a variety of events, promotions and marketing opportunities. Koeberle & Associates is currently working with USAFE, the United States Army, and the United States Navy on a number of celebrity overseas goodwill tours this year. Visit us on the web at www.kasports.com.
Thanks to Apolo's agents at PMG Sports for passing along the photos and press release!
Posted by noelle at 06:16 PM Comments (20)
August 29, 2004
P2P Photo Album
P2P photos
Kristi Yamaguchi's web site now has photos up from the 2004 Passage to Paradise. There are several there of Apolo. Click here to see them. (Thanks to Sonia for the tip!)
Posted by noelle at 01:27 AM Comments (4)
July 26, 2004
Stars & Stripes article
Stars & Stripes | ‘Fastest man on ice’ Ohno to visit USAFE bases
“I am very excited to be a part of the Air Force tours,” Ohno said. “I feel a similar connection with the Air Force in representing the United States, because I was a part of the Olympic Games and also through many international competitions. It will be an honor to meet all of these men and women who dedicate themselves to our country.”Full article
Posted by noelle at 10:42 AM Comments (2)
July 11, 2004
P2P - Junko and Apolo
Time for new pictures! Thanks to Junko for sharing her shots from Passage to Paradise 2004:
Junko and Apolo
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P2P - Molly, Apolo, April
Molly, Apolo, April
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P2P - Jan, Apolo, Kimo
Jan, Apolo, Kimo
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P2P - Apolo and Kimo
Apolo and Kimo
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June 29, 2004
Lupe P2P 1
Many thanks to Lupe for sending in this set of Passage to Paradise photos!
Apolo and Kimo
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Lupe P2P 2
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Lupe P2P 3
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Lupe P2P 4
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June 28, 2004
AAO & Jan@P2P
Here are a couple more P2P shots, courtesy of April:
Apolo chats with Jan at Passage to Paradise
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AAO & Kimo@P2P
Apolo and Kimo
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June 27, 2004
Sonia on P2P
Thanks to Sonia for taking time to send this quick report of last night's Passage to Paradise event just before dashing to the airport:
"The AlwaysDream foundation outdid themselves this year. Apolo appeared to have thoroughly enjoyed himself, lots of big grins and overhead claps for the fabulous presentations, the entertainment (William Hung(!), hula, as well as, yes William Hung AND hula).During the regular live auction portion, a few ladies yelled out they wished there was an Apolo dinner auction to bid on. Apolo was consulted on the spot and agreed to do it as his competition schedule permits within a year. (How great is the guy?)
Although time to mingle was limited, but we had some nice chats and Apolo was happy and relaxed. It was great to see him. Got to get on a plane...will post more later."
MONDAY UPDATE: More from Sonia on her P2P experience
- The format was same as last year's. Gold sponsors mingled with the celebrity guests before dinner downstairs somewhere. Everybody else enjoyed music and 'pupus' outside the banquet room. At 7-ish we went in. Apolo and Yuki appeared shortly afterwards.
- We went to say a quick hi before dinner started. A quick round of warm greetings and hugs later, Apolo and Yuki went to their gold sponsor table, and we went proudly back to our 'Kimo Spencer' silver sponsor table, heh. Go Kimo!
- Scott Hamilton was a superb MC. So was Jan Yanehiro. Really worked the crowd. Each celebrity guest was introduced (Apolo got first honors. And I think Jan Y prefixed with "...2002 gold and silver medallist, and we will hear screams as we did last year..." lol
- Screams were plenty for Apolo. From everywhere. I think the loudest and most sustained came from beautiful Joy Luck Club actress Tamlyn Tomita who was right next to our table. In fact some heard her loudest screams were for Yuki. Go Yuki! In another table next to us, a giddy lady was chanting 'Apolo!Apolo!' so much, her male companion joked to the MC that he didn't know her.
- But actually it was a big love fest for all connected to Kristi's foundation, with the biggest kudos to Kristi herself. Plenty of standing ovations, accolades, all around. Each celebrity guest got a chance to speak briefly from their tables, so it was more interactive and warm-fuzzies-generating. Apolo got to sit back and enjoy himself more this year, from what we could see at the dinner.
- "The Hung Man" was first called on stage to sing Happy Birthday to someone. .That gave a taste of things to come.
- More presentations...then a live auction. Before dinner I already heard a woman walk by and said "If it were Apolo Ohno I'd bid..." He was not on the live auction list, but by spontaneous demand, Apolo was put on the spot for a dinner for 10. The gracious one agreed. Bidding started right away. Kristi bid $2500. Kimo got in on the action too. Finally someone won the auction at $6000. Awesome.
- More presentations later, a neo-ancient-hula performance followed. Very nice. A bit long. Then a ancient hula mini lesson with 'volunteers' followed. Apolo was solicited but declined vigorously (two thumbs down at the solicitor) Ronnie Lott and William Hung and a number of others did the honors and it was pretty funny.
- Later, William Hung was up for a full version of She Bangs with Tomita, former Miss Universe Brooke Lee, and a figure skating medallist (Roslyn Sumners) as backup dancers gone wild. I can't say I'm a fan but seeing him in action - I could see that he does give his all and as Apolo said - the guy is completely fearless! It was crazy.
- Some more presentations later, the program drew to a close and Kristi told everyone to drive home safely. What??? Slight panic. We thought Apolo would be around to mingle a bit. The main difference is last year people were free to mingle as soon as the entertainment started, but this year everyone sat through the whole program.
- After visiting with and posing with some people at his table, Apolo very nicely relocated to our table so we had a chance to chat a bit. Don't know what they put in his food, or maybe it was She Bangs and the wild dancers, but Apolo was even more On than his usual appearance-mode self. We had a short but fun time to chat, take pictures. Surprisingly Yuki left right after dinner, so we missed the opportunity to visit with him :( It was a very long evening after all and it was greatly appreciated that Apolo stopped by to spend some time.
Unfortunately, Sonia's camera suffered a malfunction, but she also sent these two photos from last night:
Chatting with Always Dream board member Jan Yanehiro and Jan's husband
Chatting with April and Kimo
Posted by noelle at 10:45 PM Comments (40)
May 11, 2004
USAF Extreme Summer Program
Apolo to participate in USAFE Extreme Summer program
Apolo's schedule of appearances at U.S. Air Force bases this summer is now available. He'll visit about 8 bases in England, Norway and Germany over a one-week period in early August, as a role model for the United States Air Forces in Europe Extreme Summer Program. Other role models participating are Spider Man, swimmer Dara Torres, NASCAR driver Ernie Irvan and NFL player Hines Ward.
“Apolo Ohno has a great story,” said Lynda Yezzy-Valentine, the USAFE marketing and entertainment coordinator. “He was a young kid without direction and he found skating and a couple of short years later, he was an Olympic medalist.” via Stars & Stripes
More information:
- Stars & Stripes: Spider-Man to kick off Extreme Summer
- Official Site: Extreme Summer '04
Posted by noelle at 12:58 PM Comments (34)
May 07, 2004
Passage to Paradise 2004 Invitation
Passage to Paradise 2004
Great news for California fans! For the second year running, Apolo will attend the Passage to Paradise 2004 benefit for Kristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream Foundation. Sonia sent in the invite listing Apolo and the other celebrity guests:
click for full-size image
For more information, see alwaysdream.org.
Posted by noelle at 05:00 PM Comments (4)
April 14, 2004
Sullivan Award Photo
Sullivan Award Photo
U.S. swimmer and world record holder Michael Phelps is applauded by Sarah Hughes, Philippa Raschker Apolo Ohno after being presented with the 2003 AAU Sullivan Award Tuesday, April 13, 2004 in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
Posted by noelle at 10:34 AM Comments (8)
April 13, 2004
Sullivan Awards
Sullivan Awards Ceremony
Apolo addresses the Sullivan audience
Congratulations go to swimmer Michael Phelps, who won the Sullivan Award tonight. 2003 Sullivan winner Sarah Hughes was present to help hand out medals to each finalist. Cold Pizza's Thea Andrews and the Cold Pizza guy host emceed the event.
Sarah Hughes presents Apolo with his Sullivan medal
The best part of the awards was the introduction of each finalist, in which they had the chance to speak a few words. Afterwards, a compilation video was shown with scenes of each athlete in competition. The fleeting glimpses of Apolo racing, juxtaposed with the other sports represented by the various nominees, underscored for me what a thrilling and beautiful sport short track really is (but I may be biased).
The speechmaking wasn't so great, which probably isn't too unusual with this kind of thing! Much was made of the fact that a) Apolo was named one of People magazine's 50 most beautiful people, and b) that after the awards, the party was moving to what sounded like 'Club Plaid' where an open bar awaited guests 'of all ages.' Heh heh.
Apolo on stage during the Sullivans
Finalists Philippa Raschker, Michael Phelps and Apolo Ohno
Posted by noelle at 08:59 PM Comments (47)
February 24, 2004
AAO is an AAU Sullivan Finalist
AAO is an AAU Sullivan Award Finalist
updated Tuesday, 2/24
Apolo has been named one of five finalists for the Amateur Athletic Union's Sullivan Award. Congratulations, Apolo!
***
From US Speedskating:
OHNO NAMED ONE OF FIVE FINALISTS FOR 2003 AAU SULLIVAN AWARD
For the second consective year, short track speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno has been announced as one of the top five finalists for the 2003 AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award. The announcement was made by the Amateur Athletic Union on Monday. Known as the "Oscar" of the sports awards, the AAU Sullivan Award honors the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States.
“There has been an extraordinary group of athletes nominated to receive the AAU Sullivan Award for 2003,” said AAU President Bobby Dodd. “Each nominee is absolutely outstanding in their sport and deserving of many accolades. Having such remarkable athletes nominated makes the selection process extremely difficult for the voters.”
A voting body of over 800 members narrowed the field of finalists from 12 to the top five for the 74thAnnual AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award, based on the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship, and the ideals of amateurism. The AAU Sullivan Award goes far beyond athletic accomplishments and honors those who have shown strong moral character. The winner will be announced April 13 in New York City.
See also UConnHuskies.com article
Posted by noelle at 11:04 AM Comments (48)
January 05, 2004
Sullivan Award Nominee
Congratulations, Apolo!
Posted by noelle at 03:31 PM Comments (0)