Check out Kristi Yamaguchi's answers to questions from Bonus visitors. Read on and learn about the skater, entertainer and kids hero who lights up the world with her big smile and heart!
Q: Dear Kristi, Do you ever go to a skating rink
just to have fun, or do you always practice when you go there?
A: Yes, I do have fun even on practice days. I sometimes
see my friends like Brian Boitano, Rene and Gorsha. We enjoy showing each
other new ideas or making plans to meet for dinner.
Q: What is it like to grow up skating all the time, instead of going to school and having friends, and stuff?
A: I did go to school and had friends there too but most of my best friends are my skating friends. Most of the time in high school I didn't have time to go to the school activities because I either had to be in bed early or I was traveling to compete. I don't feel I missed out because I loved to skate and made many friends from other countries.
Q: Hey what do you do with friends on your days off from skating?
A: Just doing things that everyone does, such as see a movie, eat out is always a hobby of mine, and so is spending quality time with my family.
Q: I was wondering, what is running through your
head the night of a performance? Do you still become nervous? -Kristen
A: Everyone gets nervous and concentrates on the
performance that they would like to present the following day. Yes, I still
get nervous before every performance but the levels will vary according to
what I want to accomplish. Every performance, whether it is a competition
or a show, is very important to me.
Q: Hi Kristi, What is your favorite move on the
ice? Bye, Kevin
A: I love to jump... probably because it is the
most challenging for all skaters.
Q: Kristi, You obviously put your heart and soul into your skating and it turns out beautifully. How long does picking the right piece of music take, and what are some of the elements that you require in a piece of music? -Wynter
A: The hardest task for me is to find music that I feel I could skate to. Sometimes my selections work and sometimes they don't seem to appeal to the audience. But I feel this is the only way a skater can grow in their showmanship by trying different types of music. No matter what the music is, I always try to include at least 2 triples, a double axel, spins and footwork.
Q: Kristi, I am of the understanding that you were
born with club feet and had corrective surgery on them. Has this impacted
your athletic career in any way?
A: I did not have any surgery but wore corrective shoes and casts for the first 3 years of my life. The casts started when I was 2 weeks old. It really never affected my career, just was an inconvenience in my early years.
Q: Hi Kristi! My name is Gabi and I am 7 years
old. I fall down a lot when I go ice skating. Did you fall down a lot when
you were learning to skate? p.s. Thank you again for signing my program after
your show in San Diego.
A: You are welcome Gabi. Yes, I fell a lot whenever I started to learn a new jump or new spin... everyone falls a lot, it's just part of the process of learning how to figure skate. I still fall when I don't execute a jump correctly. Thanks for writing in.
Q: Kristi, Have you ever taken performance-enhancing
supplements in your athletic career? If not, have you ever felt pressure
from your peers to do so?
A: No, I have never taken any performance-enhancing drugs. I believe in a good, healthy diet. And no I have not had any pressure from peers.
Q: Dear Kristi, I watch your shows a lot and I
go ice skating but I can't seem to get the hang of the TRIPPLE SPIN and I
am really getting tired that I can't get the hang of it. I was just wondering
if you could teach me how just by word?
A: Learning anything in skating takes correct technique
that you can get from your instructor. Then the key is practice! practice!
practice! I fell a lot learning something new and so do other figure skaters.
Hang in there!
Q: Hi Kristi, I am your number #1 fan. Why do you care about children so much? That's another thing I admire you about.
A: I care about children because I still remember how I felt about different things when I was very young. Also I feel very blessed because of all the support I had from my family and close friends. I know many children don't have this support and I would like to help, even in a small way to show that people do care. Always Dream, Kristi
Q: Kristi, What kind of food do you like?
A: I like all kinds of food. My favorite is probably
sushi. I also love ice cream and strawberries.
Q: Dear Kristi, If you hadn't taken up ice skating, where do you think you would be today? Love, Your fan, Lauren
A: If I didn't train in figure skating I would have trained more in ballet. I also would have finished college to train in physical therapy.
Q: Kristi, Why did you decide to become a professional
ice-skater? -Josh
A: I have always wanted to skate in a professional
show. That was my goal since I first watched Dorothy Hamill after she won
the Olympics and was in Ice Capades. I guess all the lights and the beautiful
costumes really appealed to me and I just knew that is what I wanted to do.
Q: How old were you when you took your first step
onto the ice? Your fan, Megan
A: I was 6 years old. My mother was so busy at home
that she told me that I had to wait until 6 even though I wanted to start
at 4 years old.
Q: Kristi, Are you afraid of roller coasters? I like drops like Splash Mountain, but I'm afraid of roller coasters.
A: No, I am not afraid of roller coasters. I love all the thrill rides except the ones that drop straight down.
Q: Kristi, How did you manage all your schoolwork
along with skating?? Were your teachers good about letting you miss school
or giving you extra time for work??
A: I usually used every minute of the day to try and accomplish a task. I was either practicing on the ice or in class at school and then as soon as I finished skating in the afternoon I would be studying until early evening. In high school, my teachers were nice but I was gone a lot so it was difficult for them to always plan for just me. I guess I just managed to get through the work and studied hard for the major tests.
Q: How did it feel when you won your first gold medal?
A: My first gold medal was when I was 6 at an ISIA competition competing in Freestyle 2 event. I was so young and new to skating, I wasn't sure what it meant except that my parents were so excited for me and people were taking my picture.
Q: Kristi, Where do you keep your trophies?
A: My most coveted medal (Olympic gold medal) is displayed at the World Figure Skating Museum at Colorado Springs. The others are at my parents' home.
Q: Dear Kristi, We are second graders from Bondurant,
Iowa. We have been reading stories about Olympic Stars. We read about you!
What advice do you have for us as we grow up?
A: If you find something that you really enjoy doing...go for it and always try your best at any task you may choose to do. This could be something in sports, the arts or science, but work hard and stay focused at what you want to accomplish. Winning or possessions shouldn't be the main goal. You need to enjoy the whole process.
Q: Kristi, How old you were, when you landed your
first double axel?
A: I was 11 years old when I landed the double axel in competition. I was on cloud nine; it took a lot of discipline and hard work!
Q: Dear Kristi, My name is Morgan and I am 5 years
old. I would like to know what your average day involves? Like, how long
do you practice and if you practice everyday. And how much free time do you
have?
A: As a professional skater, it is difficult for
me to follow a routine day since so much of my time is taken away because
of social and charitable activities. I try to skate every day if possible.
I don't have too much free time since it seems like everyday I have something
to do, but I enjoy keeping busy.
Q: Kristi, What kind of nutritional foods do you eat? What kind of exercises you do?
A: I try to eat only low-fat foods but every so
often I'll have ice cream and strawberries for dessert. I work out at the
gym 3 times a week and try to do something aerobically on the other days
like rollerblading, riding a bike etc.
Q: My coach just retired and now I have to look for a new coach. What should I look for in a new coach? -Julie
A: Maybe you should ask around or have a retired coach recommend another coach for you. Observe the different coaches in your rink and maybe select from watching how they coach and how they relate to the skaters they are teaching.
Q: Hi Kristi! Have you ever considered returning
to pairs competition? Love, Roland
A: Every so often I think about it but nothing serious. I think I would really have to get into shape and use different muscles for pair skating.
Q: Kristi, How does it feel (emotionally) when
you fall on ice in front of everyone??
A: Well, no one ever falls on purpose but it happens and all you can do is get up fast and keep going. It used to embarrass me but now I know that it happens to all of us and sometimes it just happens if I have an off day. Usually the audience is sympathetic to all of us skaters. I do get upset at myself if I keep making mistakes throughout the rest of the program.
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