Quotes by Apolo Anton Ohno

“I was going to after-Oscar parties. I was mingling with the Hollywood crowd. Its really easy to become distracted when you have opportunities to do that kind of stuff. Theres no way I would ever turn that stuff down, but its important for me to realize why Im here, what Im trying to do and the goals Im trying to accomplish.”

“Ive seen almost every country do it. If you go over to Asia and you say team skating theyll have no idea what you are talking about. Theyll be like, oh thats illegal, oh really thats interesting. Its hard, very hard. Two or three (athletes) of any of the same country in any race is hard. Ill have to overcome that and thats a big challenge.”

“My life in general has been pretty much the same. I try to live the same lifestyle I was in 2002. I want to keep the same values.”

“I think Im better all around as a skater. Physically, I think Im definitely stronger. Im lighter, Im leaner, I know a lot more about my body.”

“I felt horrible. I didnt even make it to the banquet after. I almost always go to the banquet. It was definitely running me down.”

“No. 1 is the clothes have to be comfortable. No. 2 is what we represent and how we convey that. The outfits make a statement about us and the Games.”

“Im not a clotheshorse but I do like to look good.”

“I was really bothered by it. I grew up around many Asian cultures, Korean one of them. A lot of my best friends were Korean growing up. I just didnt understand. Later on I realized that was built up by certain people and that was directed at me, negative energy from other things, not even resulting around the sport, but around politics, using me to stand on the pedestal as the anti-American sentiment.”

“Oh, I cant wait. Its so beautiful, the people, the culture, and we all love the food. Its going to be spectacular.”

“She is going to be great. We have a program that includes the best from all over the world. Our coach is Chinese. We have Koreans, Canadians, the whole thing here. She began in a totally different philosophy.”

Who else, when we stepped to the line in Torino, was going to be so mentally tough? Who else would have proven to himself that he could do anything he set out to do? In a sport that was always one tick away from being entirely out of control, who else would have done everything he could to take charge of the things he could-and should- control to put himself in position to excel?