Apolo Anton Ohno

Apolo Anton Ohno

"Hunger is everything. It has made me perform under the most extreme circumstances and despite the pain because above all, I want to be a champion. Hunger... is everything." (Apolo Ohno)

Apolo Anton Ohno is an Olympic champion short track speed skater. Apolo is the youngest skater to win the Junior World Championship and the U.S Short Track Championship. He is a three time Olympian and has two gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Apolo was raised by his dad after him mom left them when he was very young. Nicknamed "Chunky" as a kid, Apolo had a wild streak when he was growing up credits his dad for making him work hard and becoming the athlete he is today.

Apolo was born May 22, 1082 in Seattle, Washington. He was raised by his dad in a single parent home. He grew up swimming and inline skating. After watching the 1994 Winter Olympics, Apolo decided to become a short track speed skater. At an early age, Apolo's dad realized he was gifted in many areas. However, keeping Apolo in line was challenging. Apolo once started a fire in the fireplace without opening the flute and almost burned the house down. Before Apolo reached puberty, his dad made him sing in a choir. "Before puberty, I had a three-octave voice and my father enrolled me in a Northwest boys choir. I hated it but now understand he was only trying to keep me busy."

A few of Apolo's role models growing up include Mohammad Ali, Lance Armstrong and Michael Johnson. "Mohammad Ali is my man, the greatest boxer and perhaps athlete of all time. Every book report I ever did was about him." Apolo looked up to Lance Armstrong because he faced cancer and went on to win the Tour de France, the most grueling bike race in the world. Michael Johnson is an Olympic champion sprinter. "I've always admired his unorthodox style and the way his pure concentration consistently showed the world his determination." Apolo admired these three people because 80% of the time people who are born with talent do not use it to their full potential. The people who work the hardest most of the time do not have the talent. Ali, Armstrong and Johnson had the talent and worked the hardest. Apolo was motivated by their skills and work ethic.

Apolo is the most decorated winter Olympic athlete ever. At the age of 14, he became the youngest U.S. National champion in 1997 and has been the reigning champion since 2001, winning the title a total of 12 times. In December 1999, he became the youngest skater to win a World Cup event title, and became the first American to win a World Cup overall title in 2001, which he won again in 2003 and 2005. He won his first overall World Championship title at the 2008 championships.

After failing to make the 1998 Olympic team at age