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<!--{{Infobox figure skater
 
| name = Kristi Yamaguchi| image= Kristi Yamaguchi at Heart Truth 2009.jpg
 
| caption = Kristi Yamaguchi at the 2009 [[Heart Truth]] fashion show
 
| country = United States
 
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|7|12}}
 
| birth_place = [[Hayward, California]], U.S.
 
| height = {{height|m=1.55}}
 
| weight =
 
| partner =
 
| formerpartner = [[Rudi Galindo]]
 
| coach =
 
| formercoach = [[Christy Ness]]
 
| choreographer =
 
| formerchoreographer =
 
| skating club = St. Moritz ISC
 
| retired = 1992{{Citation needed|date=May 2012}}
 
| medaltemplates = <!-- see [[Template:MedalRelatedTemplates]] --
 
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}
 
{{MedalSport | Ladies' [[Figure skating]] }}
 
{{MedalCompetition | [[Olympic Games]] }}
 
{{MedalGold|[[Figure skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics|1992 Albertville]]|[[Figure skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics|Ladies' singles]] }}
 
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]]}}
 
{{MedalGold| [[1991 World Figure Skating Championships|1991 Munich]]|Ladies' singles}}
 
{{MedalGold| [[1992 World Figure Skating Championships|1992 Oakland]]|Ladies' singles}}
 
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|World Junior Championships]] }}
 
{{MedalGold| [[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|1988 Brisbane]] | [[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|Ladies' singles]] }}
 
{{MedalSport | Pairs' [[Figure skating]] }}
 
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|World Junior Championships]] }}
 
{{MedalGold| [[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|1988 Brisbane]] | [[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|Pairs]] }}
 
{{MedalBronze| [[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|1987 Kitchener]] | [[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|Pairs]] }}
 
}}
 
{{MedalTop}}
 
{{MedalSport | Women's [[Figure skating at the Olympic Games|figure skating]]}}
 
{{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }}
 
{{MedalGold|[[Figure skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics|1992 Albertville]]|[[Figure skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics|Singles]]}}
 
{{MedalBottom}}-->
 
 
{{Template:Infobox Athlete
 
{{Template:Infobox Athlete
 
|name = Kristi Yamaguchi
 
|name = Kristi Yamaguchi
|country = [[USA]]
+
|country = USA
|sport = [[Figure skating]]
+
|sport = Figure skating
 
|best events = solo
 
|best events = solo
 
|olympics attended = [[Albertville 1992|1992]]
 
|olympics attended = [[Albertville 1992|1992]]
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|bronze = 0
 
|bronze = 0
 
|nickname =
 
|nickname =
|birthdate = 9 February 1979
+
|birthdate = 12 July 1971
 
|birthplace = Hayward, California
 
|birthplace = Hayward, California
 
|height = 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m)
 
|height = 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m)
 
|weight =
 
|weight =
|image = [[250px]]
+
|image = [[File:Kristi_Yamaguchi.jpg|200px]]
 
|hometown = San Jose, California
 
|hometown = San Jose, California
 
}}
 
}}
'''Kristine Tsuya "Kristi" Yamaguchi''' (born July 12, 1971)<ref>Date of birth found on the ''California Birth Index 1905–1995'', under Yamaguchi, Kristine T, on 12 July 1971 in Los Angeles County.</ref> is an [[United States|American]] [[figure skating|figure skater]]. She is the [[Figure skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics|1992 Olympic Champion]] in ladies' singles. Yamaguchi also won two World Figure Skating Championships in 1991 and 1992 and a U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1992. She won one junior world title in 1988 and two national titles in 1989 and 1990 as a [[pairs skater]] with [[Rudy Galindo]]. In December 2005, she was inducted into the [[U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame]]. Yamaguchi was a local commentator on figure skating for San Francisco TV station KNTV (NBC 11) during the [[Torino 2006|2006 Winter Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbc11.com/press/6445119/detail.html |title=Jan. 25, 2006: Bay Area Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi Joins NBC11's Olympic Broadcast Team |publisher=Nbc11.com |date= |accessdate=2010-04-23}}</ref> In 2008, Yamaguchi became the celebrity champion in the sixth season of ''Dancing with the Stars''.
+
'''Kristine Tsuya "Kristi" Yamaguchi''' (born July 12, 1971)<ref>Date of birth found on the ''California Birth Index 1905–1995'', under Yamaguchi, Kristine T, on 12 July 1971 in Los Angeles County.</ref> is an [[United States|American]] [[figure skating|figure skater]]. She is the 1992 Olympic Champion in ladies' singles. Yamaguchi also won two World Figure Skating Championships in 1991 and 1992 and a U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1992. She won one junior world title in 1988 and two national titles in 1989 and 1990 as a pairs skater with [[Rudy Galindo]]. In December 2005, she was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. Yamaguchi was a local commentator on figure skating for San Francisco TV station KNTV (NBC 11) during the [[Torino 2006|2006 Winter Olympics]]. In 2008, Yamaguchi became the celebrity champion in the sixth season of ''Dancing with the Stars''.
 
==Early life==
 
Kristi Yamaguchi was born in Hayward, California,<ref>[http://americanhistory.si.edu/sports/exhibit/firsts/yamaguchi/index.cfm Kristi Yamaguchi: First Asian American Woman to Bring Home the Gold]</ref> to Jim Yamaguchi, a dentist, and Carole (née Doi), a medical secretary. Yamaguchi is Yonsei (fourth-generation Nikkei). Her paternal grandparents and maternal great-grandparents immigrated to the United States from Japan, originating from Wakayama Prefecture and Saga Prefecture. Yamaguchi's grandparents were sent to an internment camp during World War II, where her mother was born.
   
 
Kristi and her siblings, Brett and Lori, grew up in Fremont, California. Yamaguchi attended Mission San Jose High School her junior and senior year where she graduated. While at Mission, Kristi's excellence in skating prompted a "Kristi Yamaguchi Day" on February 24, 1989. Mission held an assembly honoring her, where she was presented with an honorary varsity jacket.
== Early life ==
 
Kristi Yamaguchi was born in Hayward, California,<ref>[http://americanhistory.si.edu/sports/exhibit/firsts/yamaguchi/index.cfm]</ref> to Jim Yamaguchi, a [[dentist]], and Carole (née Doi), a medical secretary. Yamaguchi is Yonsei (fourth-generation Nikkei).<ref>Nomura, Gail M. (1998). "Japanese American Women," in {{Google books|d9lhBw8t410C|''The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History'' (Mankiller, Barbara Smith, ed.), pp. 288–290.|page=288}}</ref> Her paternal grandparents and maternal great-grandparents immigrated to the United States from Japan, originating from Wakayama Prefecture and Saga Prefecture.<ref>{{cite web|author=Edited by Richard Demak |url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1003550/2/index.htm |title=Scorecard : Sports Illustrated vault |publisher=Vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com |date=1992-03-23 |accessdate=2010-04-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/profiles/kristi-yamaguchi/3/ |title=Kristi Yamaguchi &#124; Faces of America |publisher=PBS |date= |accessdate=2010-04-23}}</ref> Yamaguchi's grandparents were sent to an internment camp during World War II, where her mother was born.
 
 
Kristi and her siblings, Brett and Lori, grew up in Fremont, California. Yamaguchi attended Mission San Jose High School her junior and senior year where she graduated. While at Mission, Kristi's excellence in skating prompted a "Kristi Yamaguchi Day" on February 24, 1989. Mission held an assembly honoring her, where she was presented with an honorary varsity jacket.
 
   
 
Yamaguchi began skating and taking ballet lessons, as a child, as physical therapy for her club feet.
 
Yamaguchi began skating and taking ballet lessons, as a child, as physical therapy for her club feet.
   
== Pairs career ==
+
==Pairs career==
 
With [[Rudy Galindo]] she won the junior title at the U.S. championships in 1986. Two years later, Yamaguchi won the singles and, with Galindo, the pairs titles at the 1988 World Junior Championships; Galindo had won the 1987 World Junior Championship in singles. In 1989 Yamaguchi and Galindo won the senior pairs title at the U.S. Championships. They won the title again in 1990.
 
With [[Rudy Galindo]] she won the junior title at the U.S. championships in 1986. Two years later, Yamaguchi won the singles and, with Galindo, the pairs titles at the 1988 World Junior Championships; Galindo had won the 1987 World Junior Championship in singles. In 1989 Yamaguchi and Galindo won the senior pairs title at the U.S. Championships. They won the title again in 1990.
   
As a pairs team, Yamaguchi and Galindo were unusual in that they were both accomplished singles skaters, which allowed them to consistently perform difficult elements like side by side Triple [[Flip jump]]s, which are still more difficult than side by side jumps performed by current top international pairs teams. They also jumped and spun in opposite directions, Yamaguchi counter-clockwise, and Galindo clockwise, which gave them an unusual look on the ice. In 1990, Yamaguchi decided to focus solely on singles. Galindo went on to have a successful singles career as well, winning the 1996 U.S. championships and the 1996 World bronze medal.
+
As a pairs team, Yamaguchi and Galindo were unusual in that they were both accomplished singles skaters, which allowed them to consistently perform difficult elements like side by side Triple Flip jumps, which are still more difficult than side by side jumps performed by current top international pairs teams. They also jumped and spun in opposite directions, Yamaguchi counter-clockwise, and Galindo clockwise, which gave them an unusual look on the ice. In 1990, Yamaguchi decided to focus solely on singles. Galindo went on to have a successful singles career as well, winning the 1996 U.S. championships and the 1996 World bronze medal.
   
== Singles career ==
+
==Singles career==
In 1991, Yamaguchi moved to Edmonton, Alberta, to train with coach Christy Ness. There, she took psychology courses at the University of Alberta.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid={9620C364-EF1C-4A97-A28E-5C97255E10BF}&siteid=mktw |title=Off-ice advice: Kristi Yamaguchi relies financially on family, friends |accessdate=2009-01-28 |date=2001-11-12 |publisher=Market Watch }}</ref> The same year Yamaguchi placed second to [[Tonya Harding]] at the U.S. championships, her third consecutive silver medal at Nationals. The following month in Munich, Germany, Yamaguchi won the 1991 World Championships. That year the American ladies team, consisting of Yamaguchi, Harding and [[Nancy Kerrigan]], became the only national ladies team to have its members place first, second and third at Worlds. In 1992, Yamaguchi won her first U.S. title and gained a spot to the [[Albertville 1992|1992 Winter Olympics]] in Albertville, France. Joining her on the U.S. team were again Kerrigan and Harding. While competitors Harding and [[Japan]]’s [[Midori Ito]] were consistently landing the difficult [[triple axel]] jump in competition, Yamaguchi instead focused on her artistry and her triple-triple combinations in hopes of becoming a more well-rounded skater. Both Harding and Ito fell on their triple axels at the Olympics (though Ito successfully landed the jump later on in her long program after missing it the first time), allowing Yamaguchi to win the gold, despite errors in her free program, including putting a hand to the ice on a [[loop jump|triple loop]] and a [[salchow jump|double salchow]] instead of a planned triple. Yamaguchi went on to successfully defend her World title that same year.
+
In 1991, Yamaguchi moved to Edmonton, Alberta, to train with coach Christy Ness. There, she took psychology courses at the University of Alberta. The same year Yamaguchi placed second to [[Tonya Harding]] at the U.S. championships, her third consecutive silver medal at Nationals. The following month in Munich, Germany, Yamaguchi won the 1991 World Championships. That year the American ladies team, consisting of Yamaguchi, Harding and [[Nancy Kerrigan]], became the only national ladies team to have its members place first, second and third at Worlds. In 1992, Yamaguchi won her first U.S. title and gained a spot to the [[Albertville 1992|1992 Winter Olympics]] in Albertville, France. Joining her on the U.S. team were again Kerrigan and Harding. While competitors Harding and [[Japan]]’s [[Midori Ito]] were consistently landing the difficult triple axel jump in competition, Yamaguchi instead focused on her artistry and her triple-triple combinations in hopes of becoming a more well-rounded skater. Both Harding and Ito fell on their triple axels at the Olympics (though Ito successfully landed the jump later on in her long program after missing it the first time), allowing Yamaguchi to win the gold, despite errors in her free program, including putting a hand to the ice on a triple loop and a double salchow instead of a planned triple. Yamaguchi went on to successfully defend her World title that same year.
   
== Professional and personal life ==
+
==Professional and personal life==
 
Kristi Yamaguchi turned professional after the 1992 competitive season. She toured for many years with Stars on Ice and also participated in the pro competition circuit.
 
Kristi Yamaguchi turned professional after the 1992 competitive season. She toured for many years with Stars on Ice and also participated in the pro competition circuit.
   
Since July 8, 2000, she has been married to Bret Hedican, a retired professional [[ice hockey|hockey]] player she met at the 1992 Winter Olympics when he played for Team USA. Yamaguchi and Hedican reside in Northern California with their two daughters, Keara Kiyomi (born 2003) and Emma Yoshiko (born 2005).<ref name=ifs120415/> Hedican is a TV sports analyst who covers the San Jose Sharks ice hockey team.
+
Since July 8, 2000, she has been married to Bret Hedican, a retired professional hockey player she met at the 1992 Winter Olympics when he played for Team USA. Yamaguchi and Hedican reside in Northern California with their two daughters, Keara Kiyomi (born 2003) and Emma Yoshiko (born 2005). Hedican is a TV sports analyst who covers the San Jose Sharks ice hockey team.
   
 
In 1996, Kristi established the Always Dream Foundation for children. The goal of the foundation is to provide funding for after school programs, computers, back-to-school clothes for underprivileged children, and summer camps for kids with disabilities. Commenting in 2009, she explained her inspiration for the project:
 
In 1996, Kristi established the Always Dream Foundation for children. The goal of the foundation is to provide funding for after school programs, computers, back-to-school clothes for underprivileged children, and summer camps for kids with disabilities. Commenting in 2009, she explained her inspiration for the project:
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"I was inspired by the Make-A-Wish foundation to make a positive difference in children’s lives. We’ve been helping out various children’s organizations, which is rewarding. Our latest project is a playground designed so that kids of all abilities can play side by side. That’s our focus now."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abilitymagazine.com/Kristi_yamaguchi.html|title=''Ability Magazine: Kristi Yamaguchi Interview"'' (2009)|accessdate=2012-04-03}}</ref>
 
"I was inspired by the Make-A-Wish foundation to make a positive difference in children’s lives. We’ve been helping out various children’s organizations, which is rewarding. Our latest project is a playground designed so that kids of all abilities can play side by side. That’s our focus now."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abilitymagazine.com/Kristi_yamaguchi.html|title=''Ability Magazine: Kristi Yamaguchi Interview"'' (2009)|accessdate=2012-04-03}}</ref>
   
Yamaguchi is the author of ''Always Dream'', ''Pure Gold'', and ''Figure Skating for Dummies''. In 2011, she published a children's book, ''Dream Big, Little Pig'',<ref>{{cite book |title= Dream Big, Little Pig |last=Yamaguchi |first=Kristi |others=Illustrated by Tim Bowers |publisher=Sourcebooks Jabberwocky |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-4022-5275-4 |oclc=662405424}}</ref> which was #2 on the New York Times bestseller list; a portion of the proceeds went to the Always Dream Foundation to support early childhood literacy programs.<ref name=dblp>{{cite news | url = http://www.phillyburbs.com/blogs/book_checked/figure-skater-kristi-yamaguchi-turns-best-selling-children-s-author/article_283149c6-5a0a-11e0-8944-0017a4a78c22.html | title = Figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi turns best-selling children's author | last = Wengen | first =Deidre |date = March 29, 2011 | work =phillyburbs.com | accessdate = March 29, 2011}}</ref> A sequel, ''It's a Big World Little Pig'',<ref>{{cite book |title= It's a Big World, Little Pig |last=Yamaguchi |first=Kristi |others=Illustrated by Tim Bowers |publisher=Sourcebooks Jabberwocky |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-4022-6644-7 |oclc=747529286}}</ref> is scheduled to be published March 6, 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=It's a Big World, Little Pig! |url=http://www.amazon.com/Its-Big-World-Little-Pig/dp/1402266448 |publisher=amazon.com |accessdate=January 30, 2010}}</ref>
+
Yamaguchi is the author of ''Always Dream'', ''Pure Gold'', and ''Figure Skating for Dummies''. In 2011, she published a children's book, ''Dream Big, Little Pig'', which was #2 on the New York Times bestseller list; a portion of the proceeds went to the Always Dream Foundation to support early childhood literacy programs.<ref name=dblp>{{cite news | url = http://www.phillyburbs.com/blogs/book_checked/figure-skater-kristi-yamaguchi-turns-best-selling-children-s-author/article_283149c6-5a0a-11e0-8944-0017a4a78c22.html | title = Figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi turns best-selling children's author | last = Wengen | first =Deidre |date = March 29, 2011 | work =phillyburbs.com | accessdate = March 29, 2011}}</ref> A sequel, ''It's a Big World Little Pig'', is scheduled to be published March 6, 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=It's a Big World, Little Pig! |url=http://www.amazon.com/Its-Big-World-Little-Pig/dp/1402266448 |publisher=amazon.com |accessdate=January 30, 2010}}</ref>
   
 
Yamaguchi made a fitness video with the California Raisins in 1993 called "Hip to be Fit: The California Raisins and Kristi Yamaguchi". As an actress, she appeared in the PBS series ''Freedom: A History of Us'' portraying Haruko Obata, one of the first teachers of ikebana in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has appeared as herself on ''Everybody Loves Raymond'' and in ''D2: The Mighty Ducks'', ''Frosted Pink'', and the Disney Channel original movie ''Go Figure''. Yamaguchi has also performed in numerous television skating specials, including the Disney special ''Aladdin on Ice'', in which she played Princess Jasmine.
 
Yamaguchi made a fitness video with the California Raisins in 1993 called "Hip to be Fit: The California Raisins and Kristi Yamaguchi". As an actress, she appeared in the PBS series ''Freedom: A History of Us'' portraying Haruko Obata, one of the first teachers of ikebana in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has appeared as herself on ''Everybody Loves Raymond'' and in ''D2: The Mighty Ducks'', ''Frosted Pink'', and the Disney Channel original movie ''Go Figure''. Yamaguchi has also performed in numerous television skating specials, including the Disney special ''Aladdin on Ice'', in which she played Princess Jasmine.
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In 2006 Yamaguchi was the host of WE tv Series ''Skating's Next Star'', created and produced by Major League Figure Skating.
 
In 2006 Yamaguchi was the host of WE tv Series ''Skating's Next Star'', created and produced by Major League Figure Skating.
   
Kristi Yamaguchi received the Inspiration Award at the 2008 Asian Excellence Awards. Two days after her Dancing with the Stars champion crowning, she received the 2008 Sonja Henie Award from the Professional Skaters Association. Among her other awards are the Thurman Munson Award, Women's Sports Foundation [[Flo Hyman Award]], and the Great Sports Legends Award. She is also a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee Olympic Hall of Fame, [[World Figure Skating Hall of Fame|World Skating Hall of Fame]], and the [[US Figure Skating Hall of Fame]].
+
Kristi Yamaguchi received the Inspiration Award at the 2008 Asian Excellence Awards. Two days after her Dancing with the Stars champion crowning, she received the 2008 Sonja Henie Award from the Professional Skaters Association. Among her other awards are the Thurman Munson Award, Women's Sports Foundation Flo Hyman Award, and the Great Sports Legends Award. She is also a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee Olympic Hall of Fame, World Skating Hall of Fame, and the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
   
In 2010 Yamaguchi worked as a daily [[Olympics on NBC|NBC Olympics]] skating broadcast analyst on NBC's [[Universal Sports Network]].
+
In 2010 Yamaguchi worked as a daily NBC Olympics skating broadcast analyst on NBC's Universal Sports Network.
   
 
Research done in 2010 by Harvard Professor [[Henry Louis Gates|Henry Louis Gates, Jr.]] for the PBS series ''[[Faces of America (PBS series)|Faces of America]]'' showed that Yamaguchi's heritage can be traced back to [[Wakayama Prefecture|Wakayama]] and [[Saga Prefecture|Saga]] prefectures in Japan and that her paternal grandfather, Tatsuichi Yamaguchi, immigrated to Hawaii in 1899.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/profiles/kristi-yamaguchi/3/ "Faces of America: Kristi Yamaguchi"], PBS, ''[[Faces of America (PBS series)|Faces of America]]'' series, with Professor [[Henry Louis Gates|Henry Louis Gates, Jr.]], 2010.</ref>
 
Research done in 2010 by Harvard Professor [[Henry Louis Gates|Henry Louis Gates, Jr.]] for the PBS series ''[[Faces of America (PBS series)|Faces of America]]'' showed that Yamaguchi's heritage can be traced back to [[Wakayama Prefecture|Wakayama]] and [[Saga Prefecture|Saga]] prefectures in Japan and that her paternal grandfather, Tatsuichi Yamaguchi, immigrated to Hawaii in 1899.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/profiles/kristi-yamaguchi/3/ "Faces of America: Kristi Yamaguchi"], PBS, ''[[Faces of America (PBS series)|Faces of America]]'' series, with Professor [[Henry Louis Gates|Henry Louis Gates, Jr.]], 2010.</ref>
   
For the [[United States presidential election, 2012|2012 U.S. presidential election]], she appears in a [[Restore Our Future]] ad touting the organizational credentials of Republican [[Mitt Romney]] in relation to his involvement with the 2002 Winter Olympics.<ref>Heinze, Christian [http://gop12.thehill.com/2012/07/ex-olympic-stars-make-romney-pitch.html "Ex-Olympic stars make Romney pitch"], ''[[The Hill]]'', Washington, 30 July 2012. Retrieved on 30 July 20012.</ref><ref>
+
For the 2012 U.S. presidential election, she appears in a Restore Our Future ad touting the organizational credentials of Republican Mitt Romney in relation to his involvement with the 2002 Winter Olympics.<ref>Heinze, Christian [http://gop12.thehill.com/2012/07/ex-olympic-stars-make-romney-pitch.html "Ex-Olympic stars make Romney pitch"], ''[[The Hill]]'', Washington, 30 July 2012. Retrieved on 30 July 20012.</ref><ref>
 
http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/07/restore-our-future-makes-million-ad-buy-on-romneys-130465.html</ref>
 
http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/07/restore-our-future-makes-million-ad-buy-on-romneys-130465.html</ref>
   
== ''Dancing With the Stars'' ==
+
==''Dancing With the Stars''==
 
On May 20, 2008, Kristi Yamaguchi became the celebrity champion<ref>{{cite news|url=http://pacificcoastnewsonline.com/2008/05/surprise-kristi-yamaguchi-won.html|title=Kristi Yamaguchi Wins Dancing with the Stars|publisher=Pacific Coast News|date=2008-05-21}}</ref> on ABC's reality program ''Dancing with the Stars'' 6th season paired with Mark Ballas, defeating finalist couple Jason Taylor and Edyta Śliwińska.
   
 
==Competitive highlights==
{{See also|Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 6)}}
 
 
===Singles===
On May 20, 2008, Kristi Yamaguchi became the celebrity champion<ref>{{cite news|url=http://pacificcoastnewsonline.com/2008/05/surprise-kristi-yamaguchi-won.html|title=Kristi Yamaguchi Wins Dancing with the Stars|publisher=Pacific Coast News|date=2008-05-21}}</ref> on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s reality program ''[[Dancing with the Stars (U.S. TV series)|Dancing with the Stars]]'' 6th season paired with [[Mark Ballas]], defeating finalist couple [[Jason Taylor (American football)|Jason Taylor]] and [[Edyta Śliwińska]].
 
 
== Competitive highlights ==
 
 
=== Singles ===
 
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
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| align=left | [[Winter Olympic Games|Winter Olympics]] || || || || || bgcolor=gold | 1st
 
| align=left | [[Winter Olympic Games|Winter Olympics]] || || || || || bgcolor=gold | 1st
 
|-
 
|-
| align=left | [[World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]] || || 6th || 4th || bgcolor=gold | 1st || bgcolor=gold | 1st
+
| align=left | World Championships || || 6th || 4th || bgcolor=gold | 1st || bgcolor=gold | 1st
 
|-
 
|-
| align=left | [[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|World Junior Championships]] || bgcolor=gold | 1st || || || ||
+
| align=left | World Junior Championships || bgcolor=gold | 1st || || || ||
 
|-
 
|-
| align=left | [[United States Figure Skating Championships|U.S. Championships]] || 10th || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || bgcolor=gold | 1st
+
| align=left | U.S. Championships || 10th || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || bgcolor=gold | 1st
 
|-
 
|-
| align=left | [[Skate Canada International|Skate Canada]] || || || bgcolor=gold | 1st || ||
+
| align=left | Skate Canada || || || bgcolor=gold | 1st || ||
 
|-
 
|-
| align=left | [[Skate America]] || || bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd || || bgcolor=gold | 1st || bgcolor=silver | 2nd
+
| align=left | Skate America || || bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd || || bgcolor=gold | 1st || bgcolor=silver | 2nd
 
|-
 
|-
| align=left | [[Bofrost Cup on Ice|Nations Cup]] || || || || bgcolor=gold | 1st ||
+
| align=left | Nations Cup || || || || bgcolor=gold | 1st ||
 
|-
 
|-
| align=left | [[Trophée Eric Bompard|Trophée Lalique]] || || || || || bgcolor=silver | 2nd
+
| align=left | Trophée Lalique || || || || || bgcolor=silver | 2nd
 
|-
 
|-
| align=left | [[NHK Trophy]] || || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || ||
+
| align=left | NHK Trophy || || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || ||
 
|-
 
|-
| align=left | [[Goodwill Games]] || || || || bgcolor=gold | 1st ||
+
| align=left | Goodwill Games || || || || bgcolor=gold | 1st ||
 
|}
 
|}
   
=== Pairs ===
+
===Pairs===
 
(with [[Rudy Galindo]])
 
(with [[Rudy Galindo]])
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Event
 
! Event
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! 1989–90
 
! 1989–90
 
|-
 
|-
| align=left | [[World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]] || || || || || 5th || 5th
+
| align=left | World Championships || || || || || 5th || 5th
 
|-
 
|-
| align=left | [[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|World Junior Championships]] || || 5th || bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd || bgcolor=gold | 1st || ||
+
| align=left | World Junior Championships || || 5th || bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd || bgcolor=gold | 1st || ||
 
|-
 
|-
| align=left | [[United States Figure Skating Championships|U.S. Championships]] || 5th J. || bgcolor=gold | 1st J. || 5th || 5th || bgcolor=gold | 1st || bgcolor=gold | 1st
+
| align=left | U.S. Championships || 5th J. || bgcolor=gold | 1st J. || 5th || 5th || bgcolor=gold | 1st || bgcolor=gold | 1st
 
|-
 
|-
| align=left | [[Skate America]] || || || 5th || || || bgcolor=silver | 2nd
+
| align=left | Skate America || || || 5th || || || bgcolor=silver | 2nd
 
|-
 
|-
| align=left | [[NHK Trophy]] || || || || || bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd || 4th
+
| align=left | NHK Trophy || || || || || bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd || 4th
 
|-
 
|-
 
| align=left | Skate Electric || || || || || bgcolor=gold | 1st ||
 
| align=left | Skate Electric || || || || || bgcolor=gold | 1st ||
 
|-
 
|-
| colspan=7 align=center | <small> J. = Junior level </small>
+
| colspan=7 align=center | <small>J. = Junior level </small>
 
|}
 
|}
   
== Filmography ==
+
==Filmography==
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Year !! Title !! Role
 
! Year !! Title !! Role
 
|-
 
|-
| [[1994 in film|1994]] || ''[[D2: The Mighty Ducks]]'' || Herself ([[Cameo appearance|Cameo]])
+
| 1994 || ''D2: The Mighty Ducks'' || Herself (Cameo)
 
|-
 
|-
| [[2005 in film|2005]] || ''[[Go Figure (film)|Go Figure]]'' || Herself ([[Cameo appearance|Cameo]])
+
| 2005 || ''Go Figure'' || Herself (Cameo)
 
|}
 
|}
   
== Selected books ==
+
==Selected books==
 
* Yamaguchi, Kristi. ''Figure skating for dummies'', Foster City, CA : IDG Books, 1997. ISBN 0-7645-5084-5
 
* Yamaguchi, Kristi. ''Figure skating for dummies'', Foster City, CA : IDG Books, 1997. ISBN 0-7645-5084-5
 
* Yamaguchi, Kristi. ''Pure Gold'', Harcourt School, 1997. ISBN 978-0-15-307551-3
 
* Yamaguchi, Kristi. ''Pure Gold'', Harcourt School, 1997. ISBN 978-0-15-307551-3
 
* Yamaguchi, Kristi. ''Always dream'', Dallas : Taylor Pub. Co., 1998. ISBN 0-87833-996-5
 
* Yamaguchi, Kristi. ''Always dream'', Dallas : Taylor Pub. Co., 1998. ISBN 0-87833-996-5
   
== Notes ==
+
==Notes==
 
{{Reflist|refs=
 
{{Reflist|refs=
 
<ref name=ifs120415>{{cite news | url = http://www.ifsmagazine.com/articles/32441-kristi-yamaguchi-looks-at-the-sport | title = Kristi Yamaguchi Looks at The Sport | first = Lynn | last = Rutherford | work = IFS Magazine | date = April 15, 2012 }}</ref>
 
<ref name=ifs120415>{{cite news | url = http://www.ifsmagazine.com/articles/32441-kristi-yamaguchi-looks-at-the-sport | title = Kristi Yamaguchi Looks at The Sport | first = Lynn | last = Rutherford | work = IFS Magazine | date = April 15, 2012 }}</ref>
Line 179: Line 139:
   
 
==References==
 
==References==
* Nomura, Gail M. (1998). [http://www.credoreference.com/entry/rcuswh/japanese_american_women "Japanese American Women,"] in ''The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History'' (Mankiller, Barbara Smith, ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 10-ISBN 0618001824/13-ISBN 9780618001828; [http://www.worldcat.org/title/readers-companion-to-us-womens-history/oclc/43338598 OCLC 43338598]
+
* Nomura, Gail M. (1998). [http://www.credoreference.com/entry/rcuswh/japanese_american_women "Japanese American Women,"] in ''The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History'' (Mankiller, Barbara Smith, ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 10-ISBN 0618001824/13-ISBN 9780618001828; [http://www.worldcat.org/title/readers-companion-to-us-womens-history/oclc/43338598 OCLC 43338598]
   
== Further reading ==
+
==Further reading==
 
* Schwindt, Troy, [http://www.usfigureskating.org/Story.asp?id=32291&type=news "Yamaguchi Honored in Thursday Night's U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Ceremony"], US Figure Skating Association, December 8, 2005
 
* Schwindt, Troy, [http://www.usfigureskating.org/Story.asp?id=32291&type=news "Yamaguchi Honored in Thursday Night's U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Ceremony"], US Figure Skating Association, December 8, 2005
   
== External links ==
+
==External links==
 
* [http://kristiyamaguchi.com/ Yamaguchi's official website]
 
* [http://kristiyamaguchi.com/ Yamaguchi's official website]
 
* [http://www.alwaysdream.org AlwaysDream.org]: Yamaguchi's Always Dream Foundation
 
* [http://www.alwaysdream.org AlwaysDream.org]: Yamaguchi's Always Dream Foundation
 
* [http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/heroes/bio_uk.asp?PAR_I_ID=69421 olympic.org] Athlete Profile&nbsp;– Yamaguchi
 
* [http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/heroes/bio_uk.asp?PAR_I_ID=69421 olympic.org] Athlete Profile&nbsp;– Yamaguchi
* {{IMDb name|id=0945332|name=Kristi Yamaguchi}}
 
   
{{s-start}}
 
{{s-ach}}
 
{{succession box | title=[[Dancing with the Stars (U.S. TV series)|''Dancing with the Stars'' (US)]] winner | before=[[Helio Castroneves]] & [[Julianne Hough]] | years=Season 6 (Spring 2008 with [[Mark Ballas]]) |after=[[Brooke Burke]] & [[Derek Hough]]}}
 
{{s-end}}
 
 
{{Authority control|VIAF=18883215}}
 
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
 
| NAME = Yamaguchi, Kristi
 
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
 
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American figure skater
 
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1971-07-12
 
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Hayward, California
 
| DATE OF DEATH =
 
| PLACE OF DEATH =
 
}}
 
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yamaguchi, Kristi}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yamaguchi, Kristi}}
   
 
{{Wikipedia}}
 
{{Wikipedia}}
[[Category:Figure Skaters]]
+
[[Category:Figure Skaters|Yamaguchi, Kristi]]
[[Category:Team USA]]
+
[[Category:Team USA|Yamaguchi, Kristi]]
[[Category:Gold Medalists]]
+
[[Category:Gold Medalists|Yamaguchi, Kristi]]
[[Category:Albertville 1992 athletes]]
+
[[Category:Albertville 1992 Athletes|Yamaguchi, Kristi]]
  +
[[Category:Athletes]]
  +
[[Category:1971 Births|Yamaguchi, Kristi]]
  +
[[Category:One Time Olympians|Yamaguchi, Kristi]]

Latest revision as of 18:23, 15 July 2018

Kristi Yamaguchi has competed for USA Kristi Yamaguchi has won 1 gold medal at the Olympic Games 


Kristine Tsuya "Kristi" Yamaguchi (born July 12, 1971)[1] is an American figure skater. She is the 1992 Olympic Champion in ladies' singles. Yamaguchi also won two World Figure Skating Championships in 1991 and 1992 and a U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1992. She won one junior world title in 1988 and two national titles in 1989 and 1990 as a pairs skater with Rudy Galindo. In December 2005, she was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. Yamaguchi was a local commentator on figure skating for San Francisco TV station KNTV (NBC 11) during the 2006 Winter Olympics. In 2008, Yamaguchi became the celebrity champion in the sixth season of Dancing with the Stars.

Early life

Kristi Yamaguchi was born in Hayward, California,[2] to Jim Yamaguchi, a dentist, and Carole (née Doi), a medical secretary. Yamaguchi is Yonsei (fourth-generation Nikkei). Her paternal grandparents and maternal great-grandparents immigrated to the United States from Japan, originating from Wakayama Prefecture and Saga Prefecture. Yamaguchi's grandparents were sent to an internment camp during World War II, where her mother was born.

Kristi and her siblings, Brett and Lori, grew up in Fremont, California. Yamaguchi attended Mission San Jose High School her junior and senior year where she graduated. While at Mission, Kristi's excellence in skating prompted a "Kristi Yamaguchi Day" on February 24, 1989. Mission held an assembly honoring her, where she was presented with an honorary varsity jacket.

Yamaguchi began skating and taking ballet lessons, as a child, as physical therapy for her club feet.

Pairs career

With Rudy Galindo she won the junior title at the U.S. championships in 1986. Two years later, Yamaguchi won the singles and, with Galindo, the pairs titles at the 1988 World Junior Championships; Galindo had won the 1987 World Junior Championship in singles. In 1989 Yamaguchi and Galindo won the senior pairs title at the U.S. Championships. They won the title again in 1990.

As a pairs team, Yamaguchi and Galindo were unusual in that they were both accomplished singles skaters, which allowed them to consistently perform difficult elements like side by side Triple Flip jumps, which are still more difficult than side by side jumps performed by current top international pairs teams. They also jumped and spun in opposite directions, Yamaguchi counter-clockwise, and Galindo clockwise, which gave them an unusual look on the ice. In 1990, Yamaguchi decided to focus solely on singles. Galindo went on to have a successful singles career as well, winning the 1996 U.S. championships and the 1996 World bronze medal.

Singles career

In 1991, Yamaguchi moved to Edmonton, Alberta, to train with coach Christy Ness. There, she took psychology courses at the University of Alberta. The same year Yamaguchi placed second to Tonya Harding at the U.S. championships, her third consecutive silver medal at Nationals. The following month in Munich, Germany, Yamaguchi won the 1991 World Championships. That year the American ladies team, consisting of Yamaguchi, Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, became the only national ladies team to have its members place first, second and third at Worlds. In 1992, Yamaguchi won her first U.S. title and gained a spot to the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. Joining her on the U.S. team were again Kerrigan and Harding. While competitors Harding and Japan’s Midori Ito were consistently landing the difficult triple axel jump in competition, Yamaguchi instead focused on her artistry and her triple-triple combinations in hopes of becoming a more well-rounded skater. Both Harding and Ito fell on their triple axels at the Olympics (though Ito successfully landed the jump later on in her long program after missing it the first time), allowing Yamaguchi to win the gold, despite errors in her free program, including putting a hand to the ice on a triple loop and a double salchow instead of a planned triple. Yamaguchi went on to successfully defend her World title that same year.

Professional and personal life

Kristi Yamaguchi turned professional after the 1992 competitive season. She toured for many years with Stars on Ice and also participated in the pro competition circuit.

Since July 8, 2000, she has been married to Bret Hedican, a retired professional hockey player she met at the 1992 Winter Olympics when he played for Team USA. Yamaguchi and Hedican reside in Northern California with their two daughters, Keara Kiyomi (born 2003) and Emma Yoshiko (born 2005). Hedican is a TV sports analyst who covers the San Jose Sharks ice hockey team.

In 1996, Kristi established the Always Dream Foundation for children. The goal of the foundation is to provide funding for after school programs, computers, back-to-school clothes for underprivileged children, and summer camps for kids with disabilities. Commenting in 2009, she explained her inspiration for the project:

"I was inspired by the Make-A-Wish foundation to make a positive difference in children’s lives. We’ve been helping out various children’s organizations, which is rewarding. Our latest project is a playground designed so that kids of all abilities can play side by side. That’s our focus now."[3]

Yamaguchi is the author of Always Dream, Pure Gold, and Figure Skating for Dummies. In 2011, she published a children's book, Dream Big, Little Pig, which was #2 on the New York Times bestseller list; a portion of the proceeds went to the Always Dream Foundation to support early childhood literacy programs.[4] A sequel, It's a Big World Little Pig, is scheduled to be published March 6, 2012.[5]

Yamaguchi made a fitness video with the California Raisins in 1993 called "Hip to be Fit: The California Raisins and Kristi Yamaguchi". As an actress, she appeared in the PBS series Freedom: A History of Us portraying Haruko Obata, one of the first teachers of ikebana in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has appeared as herself on Everybody Loves Raymond and in D2: The Mighty Ducks, Frosted Pink, and the Disney Channel original movie Go Figure. Yamaguchi has also performed in numerous television skating specials, including the Disney special Aladdin on Ice, in which she played Princess Jasmine.

In 2006 Yamaguchi was the host of WE tv Series Skating's Next Star, created and produced by Major League Figure Skating.

Kristi Yamaguchi received the Inspiration Award at the 2008 Asian Excellence Awards. Two days after her Dancing with the Stars champion crowning, she received the 2008 Sonja Henie Award from the Professional Skaters Association. Among her other awards are the Thurman Munson Award, Women's Sports Foundation Flo Hyman Award, and the Great Sports Legends Award. She is also a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee Olympic Hall of Fame, World Skating Hall of Fame, and the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

In 2010 Yamaguchi worked as a daily NBC Olympics skating broadcast analyst on NBC's Universal Sports Network.

Research done in 2010 by Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. for the PBS series Faces of America showed that Yamaguchi's heritage can be traced back to Wakayama and Saga prefectures in Japan and that her paternal grandfather, Tatsuichi Yamaguchi, immigrated to Hawaii in 1899.[6]

For the 2012 U.S. presidential election, she appears in a Restore Our Future ad touting the organizational credentials of Republican Mitt Romney in relation to his involvement with the 2002 Winter Olympics.[7][8]

Dancing With the Stars

On May 20, 2008, Kristi Yamaguchi became the celebrity champion[9] on ABC's reality program Dancing with the Stars 6th season paired with Mark Ballas, defeating finalist couple Jason Taylor and Edyta Śliwińska.

Competitive highlights

Singles

Event 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92
Winter Olympics 1st
World Championships 6th 4th 1st 1st
World Junior Championships 1st
U.S. Championships 10th 2nd 2nd 2nd 1st
Skate Canada 1st
Skate America 3rd 1st 2nd
Nations Cup 1st
Trophée Lalique 2nd
NHK Trophy 2nd 2nd
Goodwill Games 1st

Pairs

(with Rudy Galindo)

Event 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
World Championships 5th 5th
World Junior Championships 5th 3rd 1st
U.S. Championships 5th J. 1st J. 5th 5th 1st 1st
Skate America 5th 2nd
NHK Trophy 3rd 4th
Skate Electric 1st
J. = Junior level

Filmography

Year Title Role
1994 D2: The Mighty Ducks Herself (Cameo)
2005 Go Figure Herself (Cameo)

Selected books

Notes

  1. Date of birth found on the California Birth Index 1905–1995, under Yamaguchi, Kristine T, on 12 July 1971 in Los Angeles County.
  2. Kristi Yamaguchi: First Asian American Woman to Bring Home the Gold
  3. Ability Magazine: Kristi Yamaguchi Interview" (2009). Retrieved on 2012-04-03.
  4. Wengen, Deidre. "Figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi turns best-selling children's author", phillyburbs.com, March 29, 2011. Retrieved on March 29, 2011.
  5. It's a Big World, Little Pig!. amazon.com. Retrieved on January 30, 2010.
  6. "Faces of America: Kristi Yamaguchi", PBS, Faces of America series, with Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., 2010.
  7. Heinze, Christian "Ex-Olympic stars make Romney pitch", The Hill, Washington, 30 July 2012. Retrieved on 30 July 20012.
  8. http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/07/restore-our-future-makes-million-ad-buy-on-romneys-130465.html
  9. "Kristi Yamaguchi Wins Dancing with the Stars", Pacific Coast News, 2008-05-21.

References

Further reading

External links


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This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Kristi Yamaguchi. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Olympics Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.