Apolo Anton Ohno was born on May 22nd, 1982 in Salt Lake City, Washington. His hometown is Seattle, Washington. He is a 5’8” speed skater that weighs 165 pounds. Ohno got his name from his father. He combined the Greek words “ap” which means “steering away from” and “lo” meaning “look out, here he comes.” His mother gave him his middle name, Anton, which means “pricleless.” http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=2173/bio/index.html

While watching the 1994 Lillehammer Games, Onho became very interested in short track speed skating at the age of 12 years old. Although he was late into the sport, it only took Ohno two years to become the best. At age 14, he won the US Championships in Lake Placid and became the youngest athlete ever to do so. After this championship, it was thought that he would have no problem making the Olympics in 1998. Sadly, he struggled with his fitness and training and quailifed 16th, unable to make the Olympic team. http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=2173/bio/index.html

After his letdown in the trials in 1998, Onho’s father, Yuki, realized that Apolo had to make a decision on whether or not he would continue skating. Since Yuki didn’t want him to be distracted by anything or anyone, he brought him up to a cottage three hours northwest of Seattle. There were no phones, or television and Ohno was left by himself to make a decision. Finally, one day, while running, like he did every day, Ohno decided he wanted to keep skating. And so he did. http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=2173/bio/index.html

Ohno won his first championship in 2001, when he became the first American to win the World Cup in skating for the 2000-2001 season. He followed that up by winning the same title in 2003 and in 2005. http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=2173/bio/index.html Additionally, Ohno has won every national title since 2001, earning his 10th consecutive win in September of 2009. Overall, he has 12 national titles. http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=2173/bio/index.html Ohno has competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics games in Salt Lake City, and in the 2006 Winter Olympics game in Torino, Italy. Overall, he has won 5 Winter Olympic medals, which ties him for the most with Eric Heiden. Ohno has a gold medal in the 500m; silver and bronze medals in the [[Olympic Short Track 1000m|1000m]; gold in the 1500m; and bronze in the 5000m relay. http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=2173/bio/index.html During the 2010 Winter Olympics, Ohno will compete in the 500m, 1000m, 1500m and the 5000m relay while defending his national title. He qualified for these events by winning the Olympic trials. http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=2173/bio/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z-obyjzj5g

This video shows Apolo Anton Ohno in the short track men's 1500m at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Early in the race, all the athletes keep a slow pace and the speed starts to pick up within the final ten laps. Near the end, Apolo Ohno makes a sharp, and quick move to boost himself from 5th place to 2nd place in a matter of seconds. Kim de Song, the record holder for this race, ended up finishing first, but was quickly disqualified for an illegal move. That meant that Apolo Anton Ohno was the winner of the 1500m race. He became the first ever US male to win the 1500m short track race.