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Post by Lori on Jul 20, 2007 15:04:42 GMT -5
Thank you, Lexi, Elsa, Christy & Lindsey! I don't have time right now to watch all of those clips, but I'll have something to look forward to later, right?  As I said, I just didn't pay that much attention to him during the Olympics, till those last 2 days, then it was too late to go back and save anything...I've spent the last 18 months catching up! |
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Post by Guest on Jul 20, 2007 15:59:55 GMT -5
Thanks, Lindsey. And I was searching for the Cadillac story (which I didn't find yet) but I found this, about Apolo's struggles with speedskating politics, along with some other really cool stuff (from an article a few months after Torino - stupid me, I didn't make note of what magazine or whatever this came from) - Apolo's answers are in bold:
Speedskating no longer has a head coach; are you doing anything to help them find someone new?
“I’ve been working hard on trying to find someone to take over the new head coaching position. I’m like the only one who’s been able to grind and get some coaches to interview. So it’s been a little frustrating.”
Why is there such a high turnover rate for coaching in Speedskating?
“Mismanagement—I’ve had 11 coaches since I’ve been skating. That’s 11 coaches in the past 10 years. It’s kind of crazy.”
What are you looking for in a future coach?
“Well I’m looking for the perfect coach, and there is none. I’m trying to develop a dream team, and hopefully the USOC will support that. I know right now our competition - Canada is obviously going to be very strong in 2010 because of the home ice, but their funding pool is huge so there’s no real problem with the budget. Korea has no budget because they are funded directly through the government so basically it’s like, ‘Oh, what do you need? You need this, this, and this, okay.’ And then China is the same way. So those three are the kind of super powers in our sport, and they’ve really raised the bar. If we don’t do something, then we are going to be really behind. We’re behind already. We want to get a coach as soon as possible. But it’s hard to set a timetable. We’re trying to get a head coach and then two assistant coaches, and if the coaches can’t coexist in the same environment then we have to go back to the drawing board. That’s what we are doing right now. We’ve picked somebody, but now it’s an issue of negotiating salary and contracts.
Ten years from now where do you see yourself?
“Let’s see…I’ll be 34. I see myself traveling, but being based in Seattle, living in a sky-rise condominium overlooking the city and the water. Hopefully, depending on what direction I’m going in, creating green living, environmentally sound living—trying to be very efficient in energy usage and materials, also trying to preserve the landscape and trees. I don’t know—I just like that healthier living. I think I would like to be a promoter of that kind of stuff or creating communities that don’t just crosscut sections of land. I would like to do something like we have here or in Seattle where we have a lot of trees. I don’t know…one day I’ll set up my own corporation called ‘Podium A.O., Inc.’ or something just to accomplish all these ideas I have.”
Are you in school right now?
“Yeah, at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. I’m a junior, an old junior. Right now my major is marketing and international business, but I’m sure it’ll change because I kind of want to get more into development. I’ve been talking to one of my buddies here in the Training Center and he’s studying urban development, so that might be an aspect I’d like to study. But no matter what I go to school for I want to be involved in the Olympic movement somehow. I’d like to be involved somewhere on the side. I don’t think I would do coaching though. I could definitely be a great coach because I know a lot about the sport. I study human sport physiology all the time on my own and then take classes at school. I’m trying to get certified right now through the International Sports Science Federation. I haven’t started studying yet, but I have the packet, and I’m going to start studying for that.
What do the next couple of months hold for you?
“Hopefully, I can get this coaching situation worked out with our NGB. I’m working on some very large sponsorships to help fund my dreams if I do decide to keep skating. And I’m going to try to just get back in shape. Hopefully, I’ll be around the training center more, and I’ll be in a lot more pain and getting thinner and thinner. I haven’t been skating yet since Torino. When it’s ready - when I’m ready - it’ll be time. I’ll start getting my legs again, but I’m very behind. No doubt. I’m very behind, but I’m not scared.”
When it’s all said and done, what do you want your legacy to be?
“I used to want to be the most decorated winter athlete of all time, but now I’m tied with Eric Heiden. I don’t know anymore. I definitely want to leave my mark in the Olympic path and dream. It’s hard to say. It would be really cool to be in some sort of museum, which is actually going to happen, but that’s still on the down low. I’m donating some of the real skates from 2002, the real skin suit from when I got cut that has the blood on it still, the real helmet and the real gloves. That kind of stuff and then I have some stuff from 2006, some pictures that I want to bring. For short track, Americans had never made a final on the men’s side especially. It was never looked at like a real sport, so to have the opportunity to really shine is cool. So I’d like to be remembered for that.”
My comments -- wonder how much Apolo had to do with those two Canadian coaches (Daignault and Thibault something like that) plus the Korea superstar coach "Jae" coming to the US? ... elsa
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Post by lexi on Jul 20, 2007 16:15:03 GMT -5
Guest - thanks very much for that informative article. It was an interesting read.
I’ve really enjoyed this ‘confrontational Apolo” discussion. I do remember reading something about a time when Apolo and Rusty were at odds with each other following a race, but it’s obviously a different situation than the one some are recalling.
What I find with Apolo is that he has this uncanny ability to be confrontational without you necessarily knowing he’s confronting you. He does it in such a diplomatic way that people end up respecting him rather than challenging him. While others tend to hit below the belt and react immediately and insist on being right, Apolo tends to take the high road and get his ‘digs’ in via a more subtle approach. His way of dealing with problematic people or situations is very carefully cultivated. He takes a step back, thinks first about what he needs to say, backs it up with facts and never resorts to trash talking in order to prove his point. He also never takes advantage of the position he's in and the fact that he really is the face of speed skating. It’s no wonder he’s held in such high esteem. I think he can be tough when he has to be, but the difference is he does it with tact and doesn’t completely strip someone of their dignity while still making his point. Does that makes sense? You gotta respect a guy like that.
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Post by linmiste on Aug 28, 2007 10:04:40 GMT -5
Bumping this thread. Great video!
ITA: Apolo has a way of standing up for what he believes is right in a winsome manner. You can't help but like and respect him. I like the article about his ideas for the future. I hope his dreams come true!
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~Lori
