2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics

2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games: 2010 WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES -- Short Track -- Pictured: Apolo Ohno -- Photo by: Paul Drinkwater/NBC
Photo by: Paul Drinkwater/NBC

Apolo Ohno Anchors Short Track Relay Team to Bronze

"Apolo Ohno living up to his billing as the best closer in the relay." - NBC's Ted Robinson

Apolo Ohno, already the most decorated US Winter Olympian ever, added to his medal haul by anchoring the US team that took bronze in the men's 5000 meter short track relay on the 15th day of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.

The quartet of J.R. Celski (Federal Way, Wash.), Travis Jayner (Midland, Mich.), Jordan Malone (Denton, Texas) and Apolo Anton Ohno (Seattle, Wash.) crossed the line in 6:44.498, 0.274 behind the gold-medal effort of Canada. Korea claimed the silver medal with a 6:44.446.

Ohno also made the final of the men's 500 meters but was disqualified and did not medal.

He won three total medals in Vancouver (silver and two bronze), giving him a career tally of eight eight-time medalist (two gold, two silver, four bronze), which is the most ever for a US Winter Olympian.

Ohno Becomes America's Most Decorated Winter Olympian

2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games: VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 20: Apolo Anton Ohno of the United States holds up seven fingers to signify his seven Olympic medals after winning bronze during the Short Track Speed Skating Men's 1000m Final on day 9 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Pacific Coliseum on February 20, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. Photo by: Paul Drinkwater/NBC

Apolo Anton Ohno of the United States holds up seven fingers to signify his seven Olympic medals after winning bronze during the Short Track Speed Skating Men's 1000m Final

On Day 9 of the Vancouver Games, Apolo Anton Ohno's bronze medal in the men's 1000m short track speedskating event, made Ohno the most decorated American in Olympic Winter Games history. The bronze medal was the seventh in his career, surpassing the mark set by long track speedskater Bonnie Blair.

The gold and silver medals were claimed by Korea, with Jung-Su Lee winning in an Olympic record time of 1:23.747 and teammate Ho-Suk Lee second with a 1:23.801. Ohno hit the line at 1:24.128.

The bronze medal also makes Ohno the most decorated short track speedskater in Olympic Winter Games history and moves him into a tie for 15th for career OIympic Winter Games medals regardless of sport.

On what it's like to be a part of such a successful Team USA:

"I feel very proud to be a part of any Olympic team regardless of medal outcome. As an athlete, with everyone focusing on the medal count, you obviously pay attention. But for me, being an Olympian and what that embodies and what that means signifies something much bigger than the medals that we bring home. We compete for ourselves, we compete for our family and for our sport. But ultimately the United States is sending its absolute best to go compete against the rest of the world and I think more important is how we go out there and how we stand up as warriors. To know that this is the biggest medal haul ever is pretty amazing. All of us here are multiple Olympic team members and to be able to come to back-to-back Games or continuously be able to perform at this level is very, very difficult in any sport. So I think it speaks volumes about the support we have, about the athletes' own determination and that basically anything is possible. For the Games that are coming forth, someone asked about whether staying on top is going to be hard. Obviously it is. Any time you have a target on your back or any time you're looked at as the leader of the group as the U.S., I always feel, clearly is, it makes it very difficult. But our athletes, young and older veterans, are always up for the challenge and anything's possible."

On what he will remember most about the Vancouver Games:

"Just the entire experience. Short Track is unique because you basically compete from almost the very first day to almost the very last day. So I've been focused the whole time. For me, that's the beauty of the sport is the mental toughness and the things we've had come to play. I've enjoyed the Games from start until finish. And for me being so close to home makes it extra special with friends and support. To be able to stand on the podium again with these guys was pretty awesome."

On his legacy in speedskating and in his hometown:

"Our team is very young to start with. A lot of our guys -- I was one of them – who started the sport because we saw some kind of inspiration from something that sparked us watching the Olympic Games on T.V. That's when I first learned about Short Track and the beauty of the sport and what it's all about. Then the journey began on buying my first pair of skates and learning how to skate. So hopefully, back home in the Northwest, or anywhere in the United States, can seek some kind of inspiration from what we've done and what we stood for as Olympians."

On team support:

We had so much support and so many people there. There's so much energy. Being a U.S. athlete, in my opinion is...just different. It is a very special thing, it's very unique in the sense of how we come together and how our family and friends support us and push us. It's an entirely different type of energy that I don't think you could feel from any other country."

On his plans for the future:

[I haven't had time to think about it] I'm just enjoying what this is right now with my team. There's a time and place for me to think about my place in the sport. That's a long ways away. I'm just enjoying it right now. For me, I like to call us the top one percent-ers of all one percenters in the world. It's a very cool group of people that get to call themselves Olympic medalists. It's a very special group so I feel very proud."

Short Track Speed Skating

Play-by-Play: Ted Robinson

Analyst: Andy Gabel

Reporter: Andrea Joyce, Cris Collinsworth

Ohno on the 500 meters: "When you have five guys behind you, essentially trying to eat you and spit you out, it can be real intimidating."

Collinsworth on the 500: "It's well established that short track is a crazy sport. And the craziest event within this crazy sport is the 500 meters. So, for Apolo Ohno to repeat his gold medal winning ways, he's going to have to be good. He's going to have to be lucky. And he just might have to be perfect."

Gabel on Ohno: "Every time he steps on the ice, he knows exactly what he's doing."

Gabel on Ohno hurdling skaters: "I didn't know Apolo Ohno was also a gymnast but he showed he might be right there."

Gabel on Ohno being disqualified in the final: "A tough call for Apolo Anton Ohno."

Robinson on Canada's Charles Hamelin: "Hamelin, a magnificent effort to stay on his feet and win a much-desired gold medal for Canada."

Ohno to Collinsworth on his 500m race: "That was three of the fastest guys off the line I've ever skated against. In the 500, you have to be up towards the front if you're going to make any moves. The race was fast enough to where there was no space to move up. So I was just kind of waiting, waiting, waiting. There was just no space. Going on the last corner, I was coming up on the Canadian guy, and he slipped and then the Korean slipped. I don't know why they called me for the disqualification. I was in fourth the whole race. Either way, I'm happy with the way I skated. I came here with no regrets in my mind and I'm leaving with no regrets. We still have the relay and I really want to go out there and make sure our guys get a medal."

Ohno on if he felt the disqualification was unfair: "I do. My hand is up to basically protect myself from running up the back of him. So it's more of a cushion, I'm not trying to push anyone down or anything. But that was the head Canadian ref out there and we're on Canadian soil. But the boys skated very, very well and it was a good race."

Ohno on if the Canadian ref favored the Canadians with his call: "I think so, absolutely. But in short track, everything is so subjective so I just have to be faster."

Costas: "That is the nature of short track -- part race, part demolition derby."

Gabel on Ohno: "One of the best, if not the best, closers in history in the relay."

Robinson on the final lap: "This is what the relay is about - a sprint to the finish."

Gabel: "What an exciting race from start to finish."

Gabel on Ohno anchoring the relay: "Apolo Anton Ohno was doing exactly what he normally does at the end of a race - skating incredibly."

Robinson on Ohno: "Apolo Ohno living up to his billing as the best closer in the relay."

Costas, to Ted Robinson, on short track: "That sport, that you call so well, is simply insane."

Apolo Anton Ohno

Apolo Anton Ohno is a retired American short track speed skater and an Olympic gold medalist. He was born on May 22, 1982, in Seattle, Washington, and began training in speed skating at the age of 12.

Ohno competed in the 2002, 2006, and 2010 Winter Olympics, winning eight medals in total, including two gold, two silver, and four bronze.

Ohno also won multiple World Championship titles and was a dominant force in short track speed skating during the early 2000s. He retired from competition in 2013 and has since worked as a commentator and analyst for various sports networks, including NBC Sports and the Olympic Games.

Off the ice, Ohno has been involved in a number of philanthropic endeavors, including the Apolo Anton Ohno Foundation, which promotes physical activity and healthy living among young people. He has also competed on reality shows, including "Dancing with the Stars" and "The Masked Singer."

 

2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games
Apolo Ohno America's Most Decorated Winter Olympian