Nepedia
Back to Discover
Fluent Reader
📖

Apolo Ohno

sports Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Apolo Anton Ohno is a famous American athlete. He is best known for short track speed skating. This sport is fast and exciting on an ice rink. Ohno became a hero to many fans during the Winter Olympics. He won eight medals in total during his Olympic career. These include two gold medals, two silver medals, and four bronze medals. He is even in the International Sports Hall of Fame.

Saguenay 500m
Saguenay 500m

Training for speed skating takes a lot of hard work. Ohno started training full-time when he was only 13 years old. He went to the Lake Placid Olympic Training Center to practice. At first, his teammates gave him a nickname to help him work harder. He learned to skate very fast through many long practices. He even tried swimming and roller skating when he was younger. These sports helped him get ready for the ice.

Apolo Ohno, 2002
Apolo Ohno, 2002

Ohno's journey began in Seattle, Washington. He was born on May 22, 1982. His father raised him and encouraged his love for sports. His father even chose his name for a special reason. The name Apolo comes from Greek words that mean to "steer away from" and "look out; here he comes." His father wanted him to stay active and busy. This support helped him become a great champion.

Apolo-Ohno-Speaking-Special-Olympics
Apolo-Ohno-Speaking-Special-Olympics

Many big moments happened during his career. In 1997, he became the youngest U.S. national champion at age 14. He won the national title 12 times between 2001 and 2009. At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, he became very famous. He won a silver medal in the 1000 m race after a big crash. He also won a gold medal in the 1500 m race. These wins showed the world his amazing skill.

Apolo Ohno's speed skates
Apolo Ohno's speed skates

Today, Apolo does many different things besides skating. He is a retired competitor who stays very busy. He works as a motivational speaker to help others. He also started a business for nutritional supplements. You might have seen him on television, too. He won a season of the show Dancing with the Stars. He has also worked as a commentator for the Winter Games.

357 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (7)
File:Apolo Ohno's speed skates.jpg
Apolo Ohno's speed skates.jpg
File:Apolo Ohno, 2002.jpg
Apolo Ohno, 2002.jpg
File:Saguenay 500m.jpg
Saguenay 500m.jpg
File:2010 Winter Olympics Press Conference.jpg
2010 Winter Olympics Press Conference.jpg
File:Speaker Nancy Pelosi Meeting with Shani Davis and Apolo Ohno (4541691200).jpg
Speaker Nancy Pelosi Meeting with Shani...
File:Apolo-Ohno-Speaking-Special-Olympics.jpg
Apolo-Ohno-Speaking-Special-Olympics.jpg
File:Apolo Anton Ohno 1.JPG
Apolo Anton Ohno 1.JPG
More to explore

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.