Apolo Ohno
Posted on 02/25/2006 10:09:05 PM PST by saquin
TURIN, Italy -- Know this: Apolo Anton Ohno would like to go out and party now, and then soak up the admiration from fans at the Olympics and -- hey, who knows? -- maybe even get his photo taken with a Playmate.
You know why he doesn't?
He wants to win. He wants to represent this country with pride. He makes sacrifices so he can stand alone with that gold medal around his neck and hear "The Star-Spangled Banner" play.
"I'm 23 years old," Ohno said. "I'd like to have a social life, but that's pretty much out the window in an Olympic year. There's a lot of things you give up, but for days like this, it's worth it."
Are you listening, Bode?
On the second-to-last day of competition yesterday, two of the highest-profile Team USA athletes tried to salvage these Games. Bode Miller raced in the slalom. Ohno raced in the 500-meter short track.
Miller lasted exactly 18 seconds, missing another gate for his third DNF in these Games.
Ohno won gold with a perfect race, and then added a bronze in a thrilling team relay.
Miller blew off reporters but told the Associated Press that he had no regrets about his medal-free two weeks here, not when he could "go out and rock. And man, I rocked here."
Ohno sat in a packed press conference and explained how spending the past four years living in a small dorm room, his life confined to a ice track and his passion, paid off with the satisfaction that comes from winning.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
Watched Ohno on the podium as our flag was raised and our anthem played. He stood with his hand over his heart and sang.
I'm glad Ohno won a gold. He seems like the American Olympians of yesteryear. You know the ones, the young men and women who were proud to represent our country with pride and a tear in their eye. I wish our current Olympians could catch a little of Ohno's reverence for his home country.
Pure class. I'm proud that he's an American.
Good job, that Bode dude is a dork!
"So was Bode's new Nike commercial real or was it satire..."
LOL, I think it was a rush job: Hey, our spokesguy didn't win any medals, now what do we do?
I really haven't been following this story too closely, but from the little I've read this Bode guy sounds like a real idiot. It's nice to read that Appolo Ohno has a much better attitude, and a much better name, imho.
Way to go, buddy!
Definitely what the Olympic spirit is all about. Too many of them are acting like spoiled brats and it's turning people of my generation off. Big time.
Nice.
The odd thing - he's from Seattle. I would have expected Miller-like behavior with that regional "pedigree".
If I were a sponsor, I'd drop Miller like a hot rock.
Ohno is going to go to a lot better parties than Bode from now on.
Bumpity bump.
I liked Shaun White. He wiped out on his first run and came back with a perfect second run.
here is a [link] to a survey of the atheletes. One that was interesting:
1. I would describe myself as...
Liberal - 50.0%
Conservative - 11.1%
Some combination of the two - 36.1%
Other - 2.7%
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