WITTY, CHEEK AND OHNO TAKE HOME OLYMPIC MEDALS FOR FUNNIEST NAMES

Salt Lake Games Set Records For Funniest-Named Olympic Athletes Ever

Speed skaters Chris Witty, Joey Cheek and Apolo Ohno were big winners Monday night at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, with all three taking home medals for having the funniest names in the Olympics.

In an upset, Witty won the gold medal for the funniest name, with Cheek taking the silver and Ohno -- whom many had felt had the most laugh-out-loud funny name in the Olympics this year -- garnering the bronze.

Unlike the figure skating competition, the funniest-name event was free of scandal.

We believe that the person with the most side-splitting name won, said the contests French judge, Jean-Louis Douchebague.

The funniest-name event dates back to the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, in which the gold medal for funniest name went to Swedish skier Lars Lardass Lardassen.

Apolo Ohno had been expected by many to win the gold not only because of his hilarious last name, but also because of the funny spelling of his first name.

Ohnos first name is usually spelled Apollo rather than the goofier, totally inexplicable Apolo, a fact that caused many judges to consider his name a double-howler.

But judges pointed out that the event should be judged according to which athlete actually had the funniest name, not the name with the funniest spelling.

Funny spelling should not in any way be a consideration in this competition, said Russian judge Vladimir Jerkoffsky.

Ohno is already in training for the next Olympics, with his coaches advising him to change his name to Apolo OhnoohnoohnoImgonnacrashintothatotherskater.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Speedskating: Iceman too busy for worlds

By Ron C. Judd
Seattle Times staff reporter

Just call him Apolo No-show.

This weekend's World Short-Track Team Speedskating Championships in Milwaukee and the next week's individual world championships in Montreal have moved to the top of a very short list of places you won't see Seattle's Apolo Anton Ohno in coming days.

Ohno, the Olympic gold medalist who has emerged as one of the biggest stars of the Salt Lake Winter Games, said yesterday he'll forgo both events to continue a media tour that began the moment the Games ended a month ago.

Instead of racing before newfound short-track fans in Milwaukee and Montreal, Ohno, 19, will travel to the Dominican Republic for a photo shoot and then head to Montego Bay, Jamaica, to compete in what his agents call "the revered 'Superstars' competition." There, Ohno will compete against fellow Olympians Jimmy Shea, Jonny Mosely and Bode Miller in various quasi-athletic hijinks.

Ohno, who said before the Olympics that his greatest mission as an Olympian would be to help popularize short-track speedskating, said in a statement that he is "disappointed" about missing the World Championships. "I was looking forward to visiting my fans in Milwaukee, and it would have been great to compete in the U.S. with all the energy surrounding short-track right now."

He acknowledged his busy schedule had left him little time to train and said he didn't feel "physically prepared" to compete.

That factor likely also weighed heavily on Ohno's agents and media handlers: After an Olympic gold medal, there's nowhere to go in public opinion but down. And in an Olympic year, the World Championships much like their counterpart in figure skating don't have the same allure as in a non-Olympic year.

"After training and focusing hard for the last four years, I need a break," Ohno said.

The announcement is likely to be met with frustration in Milwaukee, where the Pettit National Ice Center had seen heavy ticket sales for the team championships, which begin tomorrow.

Tony Goskowicz, an assistant coach for the U.S. team, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "A lot of little girls are going to be bummed out," referring to Ohno's near rock-star status with teenage girls.

Ohno admits he's in no shape to skate

Short-track star won't race at Pettit Center

By GARY D'AMATO
of the Journal Sentinel staff

Last Updated: March 28, 2002

Just call him Apolo Anton No-Show.

The good news is that most of the best short-track speedskaters in the world will compete Friday and Saturday in the World Short-Track Speedskating Team Championships at the Pettit National Ice Center.

The bad news is that Apolo Anton Ohno will not be among that group.

The 19-year-old Ohno, a charismatic athlete who won gold and silver medals and became one of the heroes of the Salt Lake City Games last month, hasn't trained at all since the Olympics.

Ohno was listed on the official entry list for the world team event, but U.S. Speedskating officials have suspected for some time that he would not compete. Ohno officially withdrew Tuesday night.

"I was looking forward to visiting my fans in Milwaukee," he said in a news release issued by his agent Wednesday. "It would have been great to compete in the U.S. with all the energy surrounding short-track right now. But I've been so busy traveling since the Olympics that I don't feel physically prepared for this competition."

The news came as a blow to Pettit Center officials.

"My initial reaction was, Ohno is right," said Spiro Giotis, president of the Pettit Center. "It's still going to be a great event, whether Apolo is here or not."

But thousands of fans who bought tickets hoping to see Ohno race are sure to be disappointed.

After Ohno said in Salt Lake City that he was looking forward to competing in Milwaukee, "the switchboard (at the Pettit Center) lit up for a week," Giotis said.

The finals at 2 p.m. Saturday are sold out, and the Friday night repechage is nearly sold out. Tickets will be available at the door for the qualifying sessions at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday.

The Pettit Center can hold about 2,400 spectators for the short-track event, Giotis said.

With his flowing hair and good looks, Ohno has attained near rock-star status, particularly among teenage girls. An unofficial Web site, www.apoloantonohno.com, has had 330,000 hits since it was launched Feb. 27.

"It's almost like 'N Sync was coming," said Tony Goskowicz, an assistant coach for the U.S. team. "A lot of little girls are going to be bummed out."

Goskowicz's sister, Julie, is a member of the U.S. women's team.

"We're all kind of scared," she said with a laugh. "Hopefully, there's not going to be any riots."

Since the Olympics, Ohno has been on a marketing, media and talk show whirlwind. He has appeared on the Today Show, Dateline, Jay Leno, Rosie O'Donnell, Conan O'Brien, QVC and MTV.

He attended the Academy Awards on Sunday as a guest of the Elton John Foundation and is headed to the Dominican Republic for a photo shoot.

"He hasn't been able to train off ice or on ice," Tony Goskowicz said. "He hasn't done a thing and he didn't want to skate poorly.

"I know from talking to him that he was mixed in his feelings. 'I am going to go. I'm not going to go. I'm just going to do world teams.' Finally, about a week ago, he said, 'I'm done.' "

Goskowicz said Ohno will not compete in the World Short-Track Championships, April 5-7 in Montreal.

Shani Davis replaced Ohno on the U.S. men's team. Other team members are Rusty Smith, Ron Biondo, J.P. Kepka and Daniel Weinstein.

Smith, the bronze medal winner in the 500 in Salt Lake City and one of Ohno's best friends, said he didn't blame Ohno for skipping the competition.

"He's brought a lot to the sport with two medals," Smith said. "He's brought the sport to a new level, and that's awesome. But we have other good skaters on our team. Our girls team is good and our guys team has a lot of depth."

The women's team is comprised of Goskowicz, Allison Baver, Caroline Hallisey, Amy Peterson and Erin Porter.

The top eight men's and women's teams in the world are to compete in the two-day event. Other nations represented are Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Great Britain, Italy, Japan and Russia.

Skaters earn points for their teams in four races: 500 meters, 1,000, 3,000 and a relay event.

The top two teams after the qualifying sessions Friday advance to the finals Saturday. The other teams compete in a repechage Friday night, and the top two teams from the repechage also advance to the finals.

"It's a neat event," said Jack Mortell, the U.S. short-track team coordinator. "People will not get bored in their seats. It's fast-paced. Every race is, in essence, a final, so it's very exciting.

"It's a shame Apolo's not here, but that's the way it is. I would have loved to have seen him here, but the U.S. is a free country and you're allowed to make decisions with your free will."

After the photo shoot in the Dominican Republic, Ohno will travel to Montego Bay to compete in a Superstars competition with fellow Olympians Jimmy Shea, Jonny Moseley and Bode Miller, among others.

Apolo Ohno To Skip World Championships In Milwaukee

Olympic Speedskater Says He's Too Busy, Tired

WEST ALLIS, Wis. --Don't bother looking for 19-year-old Apolo Anton Ohno at the Petit National Ice Center this weekend.

When you are that popular, everyone wants a little of your time. But even superstars need a break, WISN 12 News reporter Kim Dawson said.

"I have a friend who would especially die to be here today and see him," an Ohno fan said.

"We had a bunch of people back at school that were telling me today to tell him that they said 'hi' and to get his autograph," Ohno fan Megan Nitka said.

The twinkle in his eye and his unique goatee, called a soul patch, has everyone talking.

Seems it's pretty nice to be so popular, but it is the popularity that is keeping Ohno from the World Short Track Team Championships in Milwaukee, Dawson said.

He was recently in Los Angeles to watch the Oscars with the Elton John Foundation.

All the post-Olympic photo shoots and promotional appearances put Ohno on a grueling schedule. As a result, he said he's not physically prepared for the weekend competition.

"I was kind of bummed because I watched him at the Winter Olympics, and he was really .. he was kind of cute, you know. So I kind of miss him being here," Ohno fan Nicole Austin said.

Next, Ohno is heading to the Dominican Republic for a photo shoot and will then travel to Montego Bay for the Superstars competition, where he'll skate against fellow Olympians Jimmy Shea, Jonny Moseley and Bode Miller.

News that Ohno is skipping the event cannot be good news for the Pettit National Ice Center, Dawson said.

The center is in serious financial trouble. It owes State Fair Park $743,000 in back lease payments.

Ron C. Judd / Times staff columnist

Sunday, March 24, 2002 - 12:00 a.m. Pacific

Slow-mo Ohno?

Seattle speedskating phenom Apolo Anton Ohno was speaking with some trepidation last week about the upcoming world team championships (Friday and Saturday in Milwaukee) and world individual championships (April 5-7 in Montreal).

His biggest concern: Too much tube time, not enough ice time.

It's not as large a concern as it would be any other year. In years with a Winter Olympics, the Games totally overshadow the world championships. The events have a bit less luster, much like the way the recent World Figure Skating Championships have.

"The Games took all the energy, all the spark out of this year's short-track events," he said. "A lot of guys have really stopped training. I'm just going to those two competitions planning on having fun and letting loose."

New fan interest in the sport continues to be strong. The Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee already is sold out for this week's team championships, which won't be televised. (Online information at www.usspeedskating.org.)

Ohno gets honorary Iolani award

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Yesterday was such a big day for Barcie Blair that she pulled her hair back into a ponytail.

The 8-year-old third-grader at Iolani School had the very important job of asking Olympian Apolo Anton Ohno the first question during a video conference. It was a fitting job, considering Barcie was the reason the speedskater agreed to talk with her class.

"I never thought this would happen," said Barcie, who considers a ponytail getting "dressed up."

"I just got the ball rolling," she said.

Every quarter fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders nominate their peers for the Raider Award, which honors 10 students for good character, citizenship and sportsmanship. Barcie wrote a letter to the school's headmaster urging him to recognize Ohno, who fell during a 1,000-meter short track race during the Winter Games, costing him the gold medal. Ohno got up, finished the race, earned the silver medal and never complained.

"He did not blame anyone about the crash," Barcie wrote in her letter, with a drawing of Ohno saying, "I did my best" in the margin. "I think we should send him a Raider Award because that in my opinion is very, very, very good sportsmanship. I am proud he represents my country and me."

The honorary award, the first ever given to someone outside Iolani School, was mailed to Ohno's father in Seattle. Upon receiving the award, Ohno contacted the school and set up a 15-minute video conference with the students yesterday, incidentally Apolo Anton Ohno Day in Seattle.

About 70 third-graders waited as patiently as possible in the school's computer lab, staring at the big-screen TV that showed an empty chair and a microphone. Sitting cross-legged on the carpeted floor, they whispered, fidgeted and giggled, their teachers sitting on too-small chairs in the back of the classroom. Suddenly, the sound of a door slamming shut quieted the restless kids, now focused on the TV.

"There he is," one boy whispered, pointing, as Ohno, dressed in an oversized black collared shirt, took a seat in front of the camera. The kids waved small American flags to greet Ohno, who responded with his trademark smile.

"I was nervous because I haven't talked to a famous person before," said 9-year-old Kevin Barayuga, who was lucky enough to ask his favorite Olympian a question. "But he was just like anybody else. He doesn't try to be someone else."

For 15 minutes Ohno graciously answered questions about his Olympic dreams, his favorite sports and the ill-fated fall.

"If I had a message for all of you, it would be to just have fun," Ohno said. "Good sportsmanship is the key to being a winner . . . Whether you win or lose, if you gave it your best, that's all that matters."

That's a lesson Barcie wants to learn, to be satisfied giving your best even if the effort doesn't result in a gold medal or a first-place finish. It's a lesson she said she'll keep in mind when she's frustrated learning the violin or horseback riding.

"I just thought it was good of him to not blame anybody (when he fell)," she said. "I was fuming after the race. But it's not finishing first that's important. It's giving 100 percent."

OLYMPIA -- It's always a risk to get yourself invited to the state Capitol to accept kudos, backslaps and a few flowery resolutions from the Senate, House and/or the governor.

Then again, Apolo Anton Ohno is used to slippery surfaces.

Not only was he the preordained prince of Salt Lake City, Ohno was one of few Olympic athletes who starred in the midst of political shenanigans that brought threats from the Russians and South Koreans about quitting the Olympics.

No wonder an invitation to the state legislature seemed like a walk in the park for the 19-year-old Seattle native.

Yesterday, the short-track speedskater who performed so coolly despite crashes, blood, stitches, disqualifications and controversy showed up here -- and hit the legislative trifecta.

The House invited him, only to find that with a transportation bill to haggle over, there was no time to properly honor Ohno on the floor of its chamber.

A Senate that initially had no time, either, suddenly found some for Ohno. Sensing a terrific publicity opportunity on the final day of the session, senators happily took over, leading their prized guest to the heart of the chamber.

They were ready for him, too.

In the gallery, Senate pages whipped out fake soul patches they had made of fur and double-sided tape.

When Ohno -- whose little patch of hair under his chin has caused a revolution in facial hair -- looked up at the balcony and saw all the fake fur, he pointed to the kids and smiled.

"It's an honor to be here to accept this resolution," Ohno said.

The Nike people knew what they were doing, even before Ohno won gold and silver in Salt Lake. The demographics point to Ohno selling a lot of gear -- if the kids who work as legislative pages are any indication.

"I don't care if I get fired for this. I wanted to see him," said Colin McKinney, 14, a Senate page from Rose Hill Junior High in Redmond who scrambled up the marble steps of the Capitol to catch a glimpse of Ohno.

"I want a picture of him. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Still, for all the teenage frenzy over Ohno, it was the governor who got maximum mileage out of the Olympian's appearance.

Gary Locke trumped the House and Senate when -- donning an electrical-tape soul patch himself -- he declared March 14, 2002 "Apolo Anton Ohno Day" in Washington state.

In a conference room packed with kids and TV cameras, the governor knew Ohno's massive popularity couldn't exactly hurt him.

"I keep thinking that if I grow a soul patch, or if you were to put on a few pounds, you might be mistaken for me," Locke said, with a little mock longing.

The metaphor between politics and short track was a little too irresistible for the governor.

"You were an inspiration. We were just so pleased to watch your exploits. This is where Ohnomania meets with the city of political mania. We are glad that Ohnomania had prevailed," Locke said.

"We were inspired by your determination when bloodied, your slide across the finish line. You were able to pick yourself up. And if you stick around long enough today, you might see the legislature do the same thing."

"Good sport" seems to be the moniker assigned to Ohno after he accepted, with unflappable grace, all the Olympic weirdness that went down around him.

"That's short track," was his attitude.

Ohno showed some of that quality again, enduring the politics and attempting to enjoy being the toast of Washington.

"It's been crazy," Ohno said.

He was destined to be the star of the Winter Games by dint of his unusual name, good looks, non-nuclear family upbringing by his single father, half-Japanese heritage and funky sport.

There is a down-to-earth quality about Ohno that makes one hope he doesn't drown under the crashing waves of publicity.

He said he is tired, a result of too many cross-country flights for TV appearances on both coasts. He's been on everything from CNN's morning show with Paula Zahn to the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" to "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" to the "Rosie O'Donnell Show."

"It's been crazy," said his father, Yuki Ohno.

"We don't know what's happening. We just go. Hopefully, we can have a bit of vacation in April to get back to natural."

Today, in addition to a rally at Westlake Center for another "Apolo Ohno Day," Ohno is going to do a video conference call with a class of elementary-school kids in Hawaii. He also has a new partnership with Drug Free America.

In a post-Olympics feeding frenzy in which one might have expected to see him hawking everything from french fries to MP3 players, Ohno instead is finding out what it feels like to be a marked man.

Yesterday, girls were screeching, wanting to know if he has a girlfriend, what color his toothbrush is, what kind of pet he has. Politicians from Federal Way wanted to talk about the good old days back at the Pattison's West Skating Center, the rink where Ohno started.

Apolo looked like he needed a break. He probably won't get one. In New York last week, there was a meeting with IMG, the agency handling Ohno. The Ohnos will wait until after the World Championships this month in Milwaukee before deciding anything about sponsors or endorsements.

Ohno said several times he was eager to start training again.

"I've only been on the ice twice since the Olympics," he said, looking somewhat anxious about the whirlwind nature of his post-Olympic life.

"Hopefully, I can just really stay on track. I don't want to change who I am, what I am, the person I am. I'm gonna have fun, live it up, because I'm not gonna let that go. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," he said.

"At the same time, skating is my passion, and that's something I want to be involved in. I just don't want to get too wrapped up in so many things that I can't still pursue what I want to do. I still want to skate hard."

Then Ohno was whisked off into a waiting van, on the run again.

APOLO'S DAY

Seattle mayor Greg Nickels will honor Olympic gold and silver medalist Apolo Anton Ohno at noon today in a celebration at Westlake Park.

Later, Ohno will attend the Sonics' game against the Washington Wizards. Tipoff is 7 p.m. at KeyArena.

Ohno, 19, won the 1,500-meter race and was runner-up in the 1,000 meters in short-track speedskating at the Salt Lake City Olympics.

P-I columnist Laura Vecsey can be reached at 206-448-8011 or lauravecsey@seattlepi.com

Thursday, March 14, 2002

By REBECCA COOK
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

OLYMPIA -- Gov. Gary Locke wore one on his chin. Teen-age Senate pages sported them, too. Sen. Bob Oke slapped one atop his bald head.

Olympic gold medal-winning speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno visited the state capitol Thursday, and that meant one thing: Soul patches aplenty.

Lawmakers and awe-struck schoolchildren paid tribute to Ohno's determination and spirit as well as his distinctive facial hair.

"You truly embodied the Olympic spirit," Locke told the 19-year-old athlete before declaring March 14 "Apolo Anton Ohno Day" in Ohno's home state of Washington. "You are an inspiration."

Ohno, blushing, pulled his father in front of the microphone when Locke turned it over to him.

"What an honor," said Yuki Ohno, a Seattle hair salon owner who raised Apolo as a single parent and encouraged him to pursue short-track speed skating.

Ohno said it felt good to be home. In the governor's conference room, he answered questions from visiting schoolchildren and teen-agers who work in Olympia as pages.

Queries ranged from the color of his toothbrush (green and white) to whether he wants to compete in the Olympics again (yes). One girl boldly asked, "Everyone at my school wants to know, do you have a girlfriend?"

Ohno said that while it's hard to maintain a steady relationship while training for the Olympics, he is seeing someone now.

Ohno also said he plans to continue training and competing, while hopefully taking some time to relax as well as continue his education.

Ohno won a gold medal at the Olympics, but he first won fame and admiration after falling in the 1,000-meter short track race and slashing open his leg. Hurt and bloodied, he painfully scrambled across the finish line to win the silver.

"We were so awed and inspired when you picked yourself up and crawled and slid to the finish line," Locke said. He said maybe the legislators - struggling Thursday to get their business done and adjourn on time at midnight - could follow Ohno's example and slide, however painfully, across the finish line.

Ohno said he would give legislators the same advice he'd give anyone struggling to achieve a difficult goal: "Just do your best. There's nothing else you could really ask for. Just come prepared and give it what you can."

Three lucky fifth-graders from Olympia's Pioneer Elementary accompanied their principal to the Capitol to see Ohno. Garett Hall, 10, Nick Parent 12, and Ian Slape 11, said this visit was much cooler than last year's field trip to the Legislature.

"I really look up to him," said Nick, 12.

"He sets a good example for kids, to set goals," said Garett, 10. "He teaches us to go for your goals."

"Do what you want to do, don't give up and keep trying," Nick added.

While the Legislature was uncommonly busy Thursday - something about passing an operating budget and a construction budget and a massive statewide transportation plan and adjourning - lawmakers found time to honor the state's homegrown hero.

"You've given us all a thrill," said Oke, R-Port Orchard, as other senators guffawed at the sight of the "soul patch" taped to his shiny bald pate. "Thank you for giving me a little hair."