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Tonya Papanikolas reporting Utah is now home to the World Cup speedskating team, including Olympic Gold Medalist Apolo Anton Ohno. We sat down with the athlete before the Short Track World Cup this weekend.
Apolo Anton Ohno is no stranger to Utah. He won his first gold medal here at the 2002 Winter Games.
"I think we've got one of the largest fan bases here," he said. "I've been coming here since 1999 for training camps in preparation for the 2002 games, and it's always been very supportive."
Now he's moved from competing here to living and training in Utah.
"Still transitioning. You know, still getting moved in and getting used to the atmosphere, the training environment," he said.
Before the move, Ohno lived in athlete housing at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. But here in Utah, the World Cup team members live on their own.
"It's a big change, to come, have your own place, do your own cooking," Ohno said.
Aside from the cooking, Ohno spends most of his day training at the Utah Olympic Oval. "Every day. Eight hours a day," he said. "It's a rigorous schedule. It's grueling. [It takes] a lot of dedication and sacrifice."
He'll put that sacrifice to the test this weekend as he competes in the last World Cup event of the season and the only one on American turf.
"It should be a lot of fun," he said. "It's been my first time competing in front of a home crowd in a long time. So hopefully we can gather some energy and some support from the people."
He shouldn't have any problem with that. Ohno has always inspired the crowds. But these days, his fans aren't just lovers of this winter sport. Many people know him from his winning stint on Dancing with the Stars.
People still approach him to talk about Dancing with the Stars "all the time," he says. Ohno says they say things like, "'You're that dancer guy, right?' I'm like, 'Well, kind of.'"
Whether as a dancer or a speedskater, Ohno is a tough competitor. This weekend's event is only his second World Cup in two years, but he says he's ready for the challenge.
The Short Track World Cup competition will be held at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns. The qualifying event was this morning. The actual races are tomorrow and Sunday. Tickets are still available.
