Apolo Ohno Supports Special Olympics in China, Makes Plans for Sochi

On Monday, while Olympic gold medalist Apolo Ohno was in Beijing promoting the Special Olympics, he said he would take part in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, as either a competitor or a supporter.

Ohno holds eight Olympic medals for short-track speed-skating – two golds, two silvers, and four bronzes – which is the highest number of medals of any US Winter Olympian.

During his Beijing tour, Ohno led Special Olympics athletes in a speed-skating clinic and a unified relay competition. He said it was important for people in China to help promote the Special Olympics.

[Apolo Ohno, US Short-Track Speed-Skating Gold Medalist]:
“So Special Olympics may not be as well-known in China as perhaps the Olympics that I competed - the Winter Games or short track speed skating. But the athletes still have the same opportunity. I think the goal is to have as many athletes as we possibly can join and learn how to skate and learn how to do some type of physical activity with the movement.”

Although Ohno participated in the last three Winter Olympics, he hasn’t been training on the ice since Vancouver 2010. He said he’s still deciding if he will compete in Sochi or not.

[Apolo Ohno, U.S. Short-Track Speed-Skating Gold Medalist]:
“I will be there in 2014 but I am not sure if I will be skating or not. But I will be there either in support or not. I will be in the 2012 Olympic Games in London and I will also be in the next Special Olympic Games when the Games are gonna be in PyeongChang, Korea in 2013.”

Ohno will be visiting schools in Beijing on Wednesday, and then traveling to promote the Special Olympics in Changchun City in northeast China.