A Journey The Autobiography of Apolo Anton Ohno - Hardcover

Apolo Anton Ohno; Nancy Ann Richardson

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0689856083 ISBN 13: 9780689856082

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2002

Synopsis

I honestly don't know what battles I'm going to face next, only that I have the spirit and the will to face anything and fight for my sport and for what I believe is right. I'll give 110 percent and still dig down deeper for more.

Apolo Anton Ohno won both a gold and a silver medal at the 2002 Olympic Games and became an instant hero. But his Olympic victory represents just one moment of his incredible, and continuing journey.

From an early age, his father, Yuki, recognized Apolo's natural abilities and made it his mission to help his son live up to his potential. But getting Apolo to follow through on his opportunities wasn't always easy. Like many kids, Apolo struggled to balance his energetic and fiercely competitive nature with his desire for independence and freedom.

And even as he succeeded on the ice, he felt the loneliness that comes with being at the top. Amid the pain, the fear, the uncertainty, Apolo asked himself again and again, Why am I doing this? And the answer came to him: He truly loved to skate. So with laser-sharp focus he pursued his number-one goal: to become a great athlete.

From his personal struggles to his unwavering commitment and ambition, Apolo Anton Ohno is a true example of courage. He has battled his personal demons, toppled physical barriers, and clawed his way to the top -- but even now he does not rest. Always, he looks within himself to hear his strongest critic, to face his fiercest competitor. And always, he continues to strive to be the best -- not just for his team, not just for his country -- but also for himself. And that is what makes Apolo Anton Ohno a true champion. This is his story.

About this title

About the Author:

Apolo Anton Ohno won a gold and a silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in short track speed skating. He was also a gold and silver medalist during the 2001-2002 World Cup competition; a member of the men's gold medal 5000-meter relay team at the 2001 World Short Track Championships; the 2001 World Cup Overall Champion; the 1999 World Junior Short Track Champion; the youngest American to win a World Cup in 1999; and a three-time U.S. Short Track Champion (in 2001, 1999, and 1997). He lives and trains in Colorado.

From Publishers Weekly:

Ohno, an Olympic gold medalist for short track speed skating, may have been one of the hottest stars of the 2002 Winter Games, but this disjointed, poorly executed account of his career may leave readers cold. At the outset of his journey, 19-year-old Ohno gushes about some of his idols-Lance Armstrong, Muhammad Ali-and confesses his hope that he can become a similarly positive role model for kids. But the narrative, as it chronicles Ohno's rise to an elite level in athletics, is rambling and often repetitious-paragraphs from the prologue are reproduced verbatim later in the book, without apparent reason; Ohno's frequent praise of his father and supportive friends, doctors and coaches takes on the enumerative quality of many award-acceptance speeches. Many teens will relate to Ohno's personal struggles as well as his rebellious attitude and to the clashes he has had with authority on the road to greatness. But unfortunately, the co-authors fail to convey much realistic emotion nor do they capture the you-are-there excitement of this fast-paced sport. Includes an eight-page inset of color photos. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0689856083
• ISBN 13: 9780689856082
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 153