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Post by August on Mar 22, 2006 22:28:41 GMT -5
Was it the controversial gold from 2002, or perhaps the hard fought team USA bronze in 2006? Was it one where there was no medal won, but you just felt he gave it his absolute best? What was your favorite race?
For me, it was the silver from 2002 because he just fought SO hard for it. With about half a lap to go, Apolo had a very slight lead, but two other skaters were right on his heels. Then as the commentator said, he reached for one more gear and pushed himself a bit further from the pack. Suddenly, with the finish line just a couple of meters away, all but one skater comes crashing down. Apolo, the last to fall went spiraling into the wall, bumping his head, right shoulder, and cutting his thigh with his own skate blade. After all that, this kid had the presence of mind to stand up, get his bearing (so as not to go skating back the way he came!) and head for the finish once more. Not through yet though. At this point his right leg slides out from under him and he's down on the ice once more. Finally, with nothing to hold onto but the ice itself, he manages to propel his legs across the line and capture the silver medal. If that doesn't qualify as a proud Olympic moment, I just don't know what does!
Anyone else?
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Post by nermiina a.k.a nerka on Mar 22, 2006 23:11:09 GMT -5
WELL I HAVE TO SAY THE 06 RACE WAS MY FAVORITEMIT WAS CLEAN AND PERFECT
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Post by rose on Mar 22, 2006 23:17:08 GMT -5
Great thread, August! That silver medal race was amazing. But I think my favorite was this years 500 meter race. As Apolo himself stated, "It was the perfect race." I also like the relay. I think it is funnest race to watch.
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Post by nermiina a.k.a nerka on Mar 22, 2006 23:40:37 GMT -5
^ yeah i really liked the relay,if it wasnt for Apolo we wouldnt get the madal thats just my opinion
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Post by apolosgal on Mar 23, 2006 10:45:47 GMT -5
I love all his races but i gotta say that the 500m at this yrs olympics was my favorite!! It was his perfect race!! And his face when he crossed the finish line was so priceless!! He deserved it more than anyone on da planet!!
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ATHENA aKa apolosfavoritfreak
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Post by ATHENA aKa apolosfavoritfreak on Mar 23, 2006 17:49:24 GMT -5
ID HAVE TO SAY HIS PERFECT RACE WAS MY PERFECT RACE  |
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Post by warhorse on Mar 23, 2006 20:06:21 GMT -5
I'm going to be the rebel here and say I love and get a huge kick out of the relay races, and the U.S. Bronze was my favorite.
I'd also like to see the world race where he was just thousands of a milisecond from shattering the world record. I think it was in a 3000 meter race, but people say that was one of his absolute best!
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Post by sintha on Mar 23, 2006 21:59:13 GMT -5
I loved the 1000m race in '06.....he won bronze after not making in to the final of the 1500m. It was such a thrilling race 'cuz Ohno was in 2nd then out of nowhere that Korean dude (Lee-Ho Suk...i think) moved up...and he was in 3rd. I mean if u look at the times...Ohno was just seconds..seconds!! away from silver!! But, i loved that he was very very happy when he was givin the interviews about the race. To come back from that upset from the 1500 was just amazing...i think that shows how hard and so much effort Apolo has put into this sport!!
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Post by rose on Mar 23, 2006 22:52:02 GMT -5
This has become my favorite thread! I love reading your responses. It brings back great Apolo memories.
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Post by aggieohno on Mar 24, 2006 0:14:06 GMT -5
zthe silver from 2002 is the one where he crawled across the ice right? That was when I first fell in love with him. What tenacity. However, it kinda makes me sad to see it, cuz I just feel so bad for him and what must have been going through his head. It makes me teary.
The 500 at Torino is my favorite. I cannot forget the pure joy on his face and can't help to gush with emotion when I see it!
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Post by August on Mar 24, 2006 7:03:02 GMT -5
Thank you all for your great responses! Much as I love his interviews and appearances, my favorite Apolo is Apolo on ice. He's just so in his element. So strong, powerful, beautiful. It's like watching a cheetah run.
The majority of you really enjoyed the 2006 500m, and I agree, it was a great race indeed. Smooth, perfect, classic. His elation afterwards was so strong I could actually feel it myself as if the victory were my own. And please don't get me started on the near-tears at the medal ceremony. Before he covered his face with his hand, the camera captured just a glimpse of his face starting to crumple and my heart just about stopped. I agree with him, and all of you, it was perfect.
So how did the near disasterous race of 2002 rank so high with me you might wonder? Because it was it's imperfection that made it magnificent. The fight is what shows us who the true warriors are. The struggle is what separates the wheat from the chaff. Remember summer Olympics 1996 when little Kerri Strug landed her vault on one foot because her other knee was badly injured? That's the warrior spirit I'm talking about. How can I not be moved?
Anyway, as races go, I also agree with most of you that the relay is a very exciting one to watch! In fact, that and the 3000m are my favorites because they are the longest and you get so much out of them. The others are great, but over all too soon.
Finally, one race I only heard about, but would kill to have seen was somewhere around 2003 I think. Perhaps early 2004. Anyway, in this race, a skater directly in front of Apolo fell down, and somehow, with only a fraction of a second to think about it, Apolo actually jumped over him and kept skating instead of falling over him like anyone else might have. Now that was friggin amazing! I'd give anything to have seen that!
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Post by aggieohno on Mar 24, 2006 17:27:36 GMT -5
Sigh, August, you are giving me chills and about to bring me to tears!  Ahhh. our Apolo... |
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Post by fifi on Mar 24, 2006 19:41:40 GMT -5
THE GOLD ON MAN!!!!!!!! HEHE HOHO omg i like loved it i was screaming my bud off teeheee  i want him to keep on skating for the vancuver im hoping to actually meet him yayy i dunno well tottally the 500 m it was like the race of his life man! ;D |
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Post by fifi on Mar 24, 2006 19:42:19 GMT -5
THE GOLD ON MAN!!!!!!!! HEHE HOHO omg i like loved it i was screaming my bud off teeheee i want him to keep on skating for the vancuver im hoping to actually meet him yayy i dunno well tottally the 500 m it was like the race of his life man! ;D |
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