Ohno, Apolo Anton

Ohno, Apolo Anton,

1982–, American speedskater, b. Seattle, Wash. Ohno began his speedskating career in 1995 and by 1997 was America's best short-track skater. In 1999 he became the youngest U.S. skater to win a World Cup event (silver in the 500-m race), and in 2001 the first American to win a World Cup championship when he placed first in the 500-m, 1,000-m, and 1,500-m races. He was World Cup overall champion again in 2003 and 2005 and is a seven-time World Cup event champion. He has won eight Olympic medals, an American Winter Olympics career record, with a 1,500-m gold and 1,000-m silver in 2002, a 500-m gold and 1,000-m and 5,000-m relay bronzes in 2006, and a 1,500-m silver and 1,000-m and 5,000-m relay bronzes in 2010.