Apolo Ohno: Today's Rising Sun
(Interview and photo courtesy Sina.com; loose translation courtesy U.S. Short Track Fans.)
"'The Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games champion, American great soldier Apolo, is this competition's most prosperous human spirit foreign country contestant. He's 22, young, handsome, and bright, but moreover displays prominently in the competition, seizing two golds in two days. On the afternoon of the 23rd, Apolo happily has accepted the Chinese reporter's interview after the match. '
Reporter: How do you feel about these two days of competition and your performance? Apolo: Very happy to get two gold medals, I thought my own performance was very good. Also, the ice-skating rink environment is extremely good, and the crowd is also very warm. This is my very first time in Harbin, and my impression is very good. Reporter: You frequently are the lone soldier to battle out in the finals, unlike the Chinese or the South Korean team's, many of which can use group combat, but you can always frequently in the end win the championship. Is this how you practice in your usual training? Apolo: Yes, each time I compete I may face various group combat tactics. I have no special training, I just must train hard and "plays singles and fight alone" at times. Actually, the reason behind why I single-handedly win championships is the extremely difficult training and sacrifice put into it more than any other of my endeavors. Reporter: Now at the top of the USA team as head coach is Chinese veteran general Li Yan. What do you think of her ability to train? Apolo: Li Yan is a very good trainer, she's led me in training for two years. In the first year, I was very unsuitable for her training method, but now I've already adapted, but also have a very good relationship and communication with her. Reporter: What do you think of China veteran general Li Jiajun? Apolo: He is a great athlete, and for many years has continously stayed in very good condition. He has to the strength for each challenge, which wins the championship. Tomorrow he and I both will continue to compete for this competition. Reporter: At your present condition, are you prepared for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games to win the championship again? Apolo: I'm very satisfied with my present condition, compared with last year I've had a very big progress. But I do not want to give any predictions for the Winter Olympic Games, who ever has predicted the outcome in the Olympics? Anything can happen. Reporter: What other things do you usually do aside from training? Apolo: I'm also going to school, but an athlete's life and the average person are different. The majority of my time is used for training, and between the training is my study time and getting rest. Definitely, sometimes I also can participate in some social activities.
» AAO Portal Main Page
» AAO Portal Archives
» About The
AAO Portal
|
