APA Month Day 11 – Kristi Yamaguchi

Japanese American Kristi Yamaguchi grew up in Fremont, California. She attended Mission San Jose High School and later transferred to Willow Glen High School in San Jose, California, where she graduated. Kristi began skating as physical therapy for her club feet.

Although she has club feet, Kristi Yamaguchi is an Olympic Gold Medalist; two-time World Champion, U.S. National Champion and a four-time World Profession Champion. She was one of the first U.S. women to compete in both pairs’ events and ladies’ singles and win pairs titles in 1989 and 1990. She and her partner, Rudy Galindo, were the 1988 World Junior Pairs Champions. Kristi also won the Junior Ladies Title that same year. Kristi also was the first American to win the Olympic Gold Medal since Dorothy Hamill in 1976. Later, as a professional, she won four titles and was honored as 1996 Skater of the Year by American Skating World. Kristi was named to the U.S. Hall of Fame by the United States Figure Skating Association and to the World Skating Hall of Fame in 1999. On December 8, 2005, Kristi was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Committee Olympic Hall of Fame.

After her skating career, she has charitable work. Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream Foundation was established with one purpose in mind: to support organizations that have a positive influence on children including purchasing computers for an after-school mentoring program and providing sponsored summer camp for kids with disabilities.

In addition to her charity, she spends time with her family in Raleigh, North Carolina. Kristi is married to Carolina Hurricanes’ Bret Hedican with whom she has two daughters. Currently, you can catch Kristi Yamaguchi on the Stars. ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.

Watch Kristi Yamaguchi on Week 1 of DAncing with the Stars: