Following is the text of the five lead-in promos and interview:
(Promo): "He skated into history and into the hearts of America during this year's Winter Olympics. Apolo Ohno overcame some pretty amazing odds to achieve his dreams. Now he's helping kids here do the same. The Golden Boy of the Winter Games joins us live this morning."
(Promo): "Apolo Ohno tells us how he beat the odds both in life and on the ice and only we can tell you how he's helping kids here do the same."
(Promo): " . . . heartthrob's here, the fastest man on ice is here. Millions of people saw what Olympic gold medal winner Apolo Ohno can do on the track but wait'll you hear what he's doing off the ice."
(Promo): "Apolo Ohno overcame remarkable odds to reach Olympic glory. Now he's helping kids here reach their dreams. And the Golden Boy joins us live in about 15 minutes."
(Promo: "Well, America had several heroes at this year's Winter Games but there's one who stands out, the man who skated his way into the history books. Apolo Ohno joins us in just a bit."
[At beginning of interview, there's a closeup of Apolo's gold medal held by the reporter.]
Reporter: "That's gold, the time is now 7:53, and if you don't know our next guest, you must have been sleeping under a rock during this past Winter Olympics. He stole the show in Salt Lake City to grab both gold and a silver medal as a U.S. speedskater. Apolo Anton Ohno joins us this morning to tell us how his life has changed since his meteoric rise to fame, and, Apolo, thanks for joining us this morning."
Apolo: "Thank you for having me."
Reporter: "This is unbelievable [gesturing to the gold medal], and it's heavy, too."
Apolo: "It is heavy, yeah."
Reporter: "So tell us, what was it like when you were on the podium there and they were putting this around your neck and,you know, finally, that you're recognized as the best in the world?"
Apolo: "Actually, it was when I got the silver the first time, you know, it was that initial moment, but I was so thrilled. You know, it didn't even hit me until I actually got on the stage and on the podium, to be the top three in the world on that day. And, you know, the Olympics is every four years, so it's like the pinnacle of all competitions."
Reporter: "And you started training for this early. I mean, you're only 18 -- "
Apolo: "19 now."
Reporter: "19 now, but you started training for this at 14. You knew that you were shooting for this. I mean, what does it feel --"
Apolo: "Right, kind of, kind of. You know, when I was 14, I was kind of -- I wasn't really sure about it. I was training but when you're 14 years old, you know, you don't really have set goals in your mind yet. I was still a kid, I still AM a kid, but --"
Reporter: "Right. Is that difficult, trying to be a 19 year old regular guy and then trying to balance the demands of fame that comes along with being a superstar in the Olympics?"
Apolo: "A little bit. You definitely have to take it in stride and day by day and really realize what your real priorities are, you know what I mean? But I'm having a blast, you know, I've been all over, just having all kinds of fun, and I'm in Atlanta!"
Reporter: "Yeah -- now, you're still training and you live in Colorado Springs --"
Apolo: "I do."
Reporter: "-- where the headquarters is, the training facility . . ."
Apolo: "Right."
Reporter: "What is your life like now? I mean, how do you balance, you know, all the travel and the training?"
Apolo: "Well, actually, since the Games, I haven't trained at all."
Reporter: "Oh, okay."
Apolo: "Yeah, completely took it off. I needed a good break since I've been training continually for four years. But usually what I balance is -- it's a fine line between how much you can do and how much time you gotta take off because it's my body and I have it to say how much I gotta do."
Reporter: "There was a lot of controversy at this year's Games -- you fell, and the French Olympic judge. How was the mood around the Village when you guys heard about this whole French judge scandal?"
Apolo: "Um, I don't know, you know, 'cause for me -- you definitely heard about it 'cause it was in the papers and on tv. But for me, I was getting ready to race so my mind set had to be totally focused and I didn't want to be off track at all. I really had to just try to be as focused as possible which, for me, that meant turning the tv off and not reading the newspapers."
Reporter: "You talk about focus. You guys set such a high standard for yourselves. Were you disappointed with the silver?"
Apolo: "Not at all! No, not at all because I skated one of the best races of my life, you know. And then I think it was definitely unfortunate that I went down in that last race but I knew I was coming back for more."
Reporter: "Right. I don't think people realize how difficult it is to get around that track in a hurry."
Apolo: "Right -- "
Reporter: "I mean, there's no room. I mean, is there always contact like that?"
Apolo: "There's not supposed to be but, you know, when you have like that top level competition and you've got four other skaters out there and you're going at such a high speed and everyone wants to win, there's going to be, I think, a little contact, yeah."
Reporter: "So let's talk about this story I read somewhere that your dad dropped you off at the airport -- "
Apolo: "Yeah -- " [smiles and nods head sheepishly]
Reporter: "And you're supposed to be going to speedskating camp but you ended up someplace else."
Apolo: "Yeah, it was when I was 14 and my dad, actually he was sending me to Lake Placid, New York, for a junior development program which is the start of the whole Olympic movement, you know. For me, I was 14, I just wanted to hang out with my friends, you know, and I didn't really realize the potential that I had within myself, being so young. So he dropped me off at the airport, you know, soon as he dropped me off, I made a phone call to my friends, said I'm at the airport, you guys gonna come pick me up, let's get outta here. Picked me up, zoomed out real quick."
Reporter: "Yeah, you guys got outta there! Hey, you're in Atlanta for the Art Atlanta -- "
Apolo: "Right, Art Atlanta."
Reporter: "The international -- "
Apolo: "At the Cobb Galleria Center."
Reporter: "Right."
Apolo: "Yeah, it's a fundraiser for CARE -- they help a lot of poorer countries. It's going to be a silent auction tonight."
Reporter: "And you're going to be there?"
Apolo: "I'm going to be there."
Reporter: "You're giving out an award, I understand."
Apolo: "I am."
Reporter: "Hey, all the ladies in the studio wanna know if you've got a famous girlfriend or something that we need to know about?"
Apolo: [Laughing] "Famous girlfriend? No, I don't . . . It's pretty hard keeping a steady relationship. I mean, being a straight-up athlete, in the training center, training, and then especially training for the Olympics and then after the Olympics, means I'm gone SO much and really, like, my time is slim to none. Because in between interviews like this one, I'll probably be on the phone arranging other things or . . . it's just crazy so, you know, it's hard, but -- "
Reporter: "And you're just 19!"
Apolo: "Yeah!"
Reporter: "You haven't even lived yet!"
Apolo: "That's right! [laughing] Haven't made my quota yet!"
Reporter: "Apolo, thanks so much for joining us this morning. We appreciate it."
Apolo: "Thanks for having me."
[Then the reporter goes on to give some details about the Art Atlanta thing that Apolo's going to that night.]
