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Zero Regrets: Be Greater Than Yesterday
“Zero regrets. It’s a philosophy not just about sport but about life. School, business, academics, love—anything and everything. It’s complicated and yet not. You have to figure out who it is you want to be. Not what you want to be—who. There has to be a vision, a dream, a plan. Then you chase that with everything you’ve got.”
Over three consecutive Olympic games, Apolo Ohno has come to symbolize the very best of the competitive spirit—remaining equally gracious in victory and defeat, always striving to improve his performance, and appreciating the value of the hard work of training as much as any reward it might bring. In Zero Regrets, Apolo shares the inspiring personal story behind his remarkable success, as well as the hard-won truths and strategies he has discovered in good times and bad.
Raised by his single father, an immigrant from Japan who often worked twelve-hour days, the young Apolo found it difficult to balance his enormous natural gifts as an athlete with an admittedly wild, rebellious streak. After making a name for himself as a promising young speed skater, his career was almost over before it began when his lack of preparation caused him to finish last at the U.S. Olympic trials in 1998. A life-changing week of solitary soul-searching at the age of fifteen led him to recommit himself to his training, and at the 1999 world junior championships he won first place overall—one of the most remarkable turnarounds in sports history. From that moment on, the world of speed skating had a new champion and Apolo was on his way to legendary status.
Much more than an account of races won and lost, Zero Regrets is a compelling portrait of a father-and-son relationship that deepened over time and was based on respect, love, and unshakable faith in each other. For the first time, Apolo reveals what he knows about his long-absent mother; he makes us feel what it is like to face the best competitors on the planet with the eyes of millions of fans upon you; and he shares his secrets for achieving total focus and mental toughness, secrets that can be applied in situations well beyond sports. We learn the details of the unbelievably intense workout and diet that he endured while training for the 2010 Winter Olympics, a regime that literally reshaped his body and led to some of his most thrilling victories.
In this deeply personal and entertaining book, Apolo shows how we can all come closer to living with zero regrets. While Apolo’s own journey may be unique, the insights he has gleaned along the way have the power to help us all feel like champions every day.
***
Nine days after dropping me off, Dad came to pick me up.
In that call from the pay phone, I hadn’t said anything to him about what decision I had made. On the car ride back home, I told him. “I want to try this,” I said.
“Are you willing,” he asked, “to really put forth a true effort? From the bone?”
I told my father: “I want to skate.”
With clarity of purpose, everything suddenly seemed different. I didn’t just want to skate—I loved it. I realized, too, that while I had to want to buy into the training, the discipline, the self-sacrifice, I needed direction and guidance, too. You truly can’t get there by yourself. I needed not only to truly and profoundly depend upon Dad for help but also to welcome those—coaches, trainers, others—who could help me along the way. . . .
I was also making promises to myself and writing them in my journal:
I’m not going to mess it up this time. When I go home, I really am going to be the different person I decided in Iron Springs I would be. I know what I want to do. I want to be the best in the world.
I didn’t know quite yet how I would get there. But I was clear, and I had no doubt— that’s what I was after.
—From Zero Regrets
292 pages, Hardcover
First published October 26, 2010
24 people are currently reading
426 people want to read
About the author
Apolo Anton Ohno
7 books13 followersSpeed skater Apolo Anton Ohno earned eight medals in the Olympics of winter 2002, 2006, and 2010 to set a record for the most medals that an American athlete won.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apolo_Ohno
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apolo_Ohno
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
April 16, 2011
To live each day to the best of your ability. To live a life of integrity and purpose. To be the best that you can be whether you win or lose. If you have done these things, then you are a winner. Apolo Ohno writes a moving and very personal account about the way he attempts to conduct his life every day. This is an uplifting, inspiring story about a wild and rebellious young man who was headed in the wrong direction, most likely to jail. Instead, he evaluated his choices and chose to live a life that matters. As the book jacket states,“Much more than an account of races won and lost, Zero Regrets is a compelling portrait of a father-and-son relationship that deepened over time and was based on respect, love, and unshakable faith in each other.” With the help and guidance of his father who is his best friend, Apolo Ohno has lived his life with zero regrets. This is a wonderful book with advice from a sensitive, smart, and honest young man whose advice not only applies to sport, but to life. Older teens would like this book too.
June 10, 2011
Apolo is a true inspiration to others. His mental attitude is brilliant. He strives to do his best. Zero regrets. Even if he should have won a race in the Olympics and didn't, zero regrets. He was proud to have represented his country and done his best, regardless of wether he medaled or not, or the color of the medal. He strived always to do his best. He didn't have it easy growing up in a single parent household, raised by his father. They weren't rich. He nearly got sucked into a gang and drug culture in middle school. He and his father were stubborn. He persevered. His story will motivate others. Well done Apolo! I highly recommend this book so that anyone else can see that ANYTHING is possible!
June 15, 2015
I was first intrigued by the title of this book. Zero Regrets: Be Greater Than Yesterday. This book was more than a memoir or a trip down memory lane, it was all about the thoughts and actions of a champion. Spill wrote about his victories, how he prepared physically and mentally to win. And he also wrote about when races weren't successful and how to push on.
It was fun to read about the Olympic Games. I remember sitting watching him race and the madness of short-track speed skating. I learned a lot about the strategy and the draw of the sport.
Very inspiring to set goals, push hard, be better!
It was fun to read about the Olympic Games. I remember sitting watching him race and the madness of short-track speed skating. I learned a lot about the strategy and the draw of the sport.
Very inspiring to set goals, push hard, be better!
November 7, 2011
The book begins with the drive that propelled Apollo to win eight medals. Many phrases , and thoughts he had when training. He always said he trained like it was his last day. The second chapter begins with his family roots. His father split with his mother , just after he was born. Apollo knows almost nothing about his mother. His fathers story was a Japanese man that had great self confidence; got bored in Japan , and made the daring move to the United States Of America. He knew no english, and had no money. That is where i left off in my book. I liked this book because the drive and self determination of both Apollo and his father were similar to me, and it is interesting what Apollo's metallity is when the going get's tough.
Review Part 2,
Apolo's dad became a hairdresser, and he descibed that his father always wanted the best for him. He made him try all different sports, and classes, and go to all the best schools. His father worked everyday to support the two of them except for Sundays. Every sunday his father would take him to a beach, and have bonding time. Apolo descibes this beach as deserted. Apolo swam when he was a young boy, and was a state champion on the 100 breaststroke. He later found skating and fell in love with it.
Review part 3
Apolo started to introduce his passion for ice skating. He first found out about it when i debuted in it's first olimpics. He thought the sport was amazing, and decided to try it. He went ti a rink, and skated around and noticed everyone was gliding, and he was trying really hard and wasnt going anywhere. One kid finnally told him that you are supposed to shapen the edges of your blades so that you can glide on the ice. A few years later Apolo finished fourth in the junior nationals. He won many district championships, and he didnt stop there. He later talks about his freinds, and all of them were involved in gangs, and were involved with drugs. His dad made sure he got his son out of that enviorment and he did. Apolo also said skating blades range from sixteen to eighteen inches, and the longer the blade is the faster it is.
Review part 4
Apolo had a special talent in skating. He raced a local kid , and the child thought he was going to crush him. Apolo beat the child with no formal training. Apolo's dad found and oppertunities for Apolo's talent in lake placid, in New York. Apolo's dad contacted the coach and the coach agreed to accept Apolo. Apolo's dad argued with Apolo for week and Apolo didnt want to go, his dad sent him anyway. Apolo's dad drove him to the airport with his ticket and left. Apolo waited for his dad to leave and then called his freind to pick him up, and he did. Apolo spent a week partying and hanging out with friends before his dad found out. His dad found him and was extremly embarrised at what his son did. Apolo's dad went with Apolo to New York to ensure he woulnt run away. After a few days in training the coach belives Apolo will be great one day.
Review part 5
Apolo has become very fast, and has won junior nationals. This means he has made the American olimpic team. He practices with the olimpians in Colorado, and the coach pays little attention to him because he is young. Apollo becomes very lazy and stops his hard practicing. He went to an international meet, and didnt care that he did awful. His dad took him to the coast line in washington and dropped him off for one week to think if he wants to contunuie skateing. He finds out that thats what he love and comes back training harder than ever before. His trainer thinks that he will burn out.
Review Part 6
Apolo has a new mind set. His dad forced him to choose skating or a profession. Apolo chose to skate. He found himself beliving in himself and having a deep hunger for achivements. He has a new trainer that pays a lot of attention to him, and makes him train a lot harder. His work ethic increased and he started passing all the olimpians in practice. Slowly but surly he was number one. He was winning a lot of races. Being so young he is still pursuing the path to the olimpics.
Review part 7
Apollo finally got himself together and started to sate fast. He won many meets. He got new skates, and you are supposed to break the skates in. Apollo didnt do that and in one race he was in winning position, and his skates gave out and he went flying into the boards on the sides of the rinks. He got up and finished second. He later found out he had hurt his back, and had chronic back problems. He said when he would train it would hurt really bad, but his hunger and ambition fueled him and blocked out the pain while he was training. A few meets later he falls again and both of his knee caps get out of place, he said it felt like knifes in his knees. He poped one knee cap in place and finished in second. That same meet he fell again, but there were luckily no injuries. His knees hurt for a while from the injury, but he continued to train hard.
Review part 8
Apolo learns that to be better he need to learn how to expell pain. He learned the mental strength is something he needs. H e would meditate and recicte to himself what he wanted to accomplish. It worked and he became stronger mentally.He statrted working out with a triathalite, and ran up mountains with him. He used mental starength and became very strong. He started to go to the sauna with the olimpic wrestelers and medidtated in there. He got used to the heat and it helped his breathing. All these extra things he was going made him a lot better. When competitions came around he was winning all the events. He started looking to Muhhamad Ali for cofidence and arrogance, and to be the best you need to be cocky!
Review Part 2,
Apolo's dad became a hairdresser, and he descibed that his father always wanted the best for him. He made him try all different sports, and classes, and go to all the best schools. His father worked everyday to support the two of them except for Sundays. Every sunday his father would take him to a beach, and have bonding time. Apolo descibes this beach as deserted. Apolo swam when he was a young boy, and was a state champion on the 100 breaststroke. He later found skating and fell in love with it.
Review part 3
Apolo started to introduce his passion for ice skating. He first found out about it when i debuted in it's first olimpics. He thought the sport was amazing, and decided to try it. He went ti a rink, and skated around and noticed everyone was gliding, and he was trying really hard and wasnt going anywhere. One kid finnally told him that you are supposed to shapen the edges of your blades so that you can glide on the ice. A few years later Apolo finished fourth in the junior nationals. He won many district championships, and he didnt stop there. He later talks about his freinds, and all of them were involved in gangs, and were involved with drugs. His dad made sure he got his son out of that enviorment and he did. Apolo also said skating blades range from sixteen to eighteen inches, and the longer the blade is the faster it is.
Review part 4
Apolo had a special talent in skating. He raced a local kid , and the child thought he was going to crush him. Apolo beat the child with no formal training. Apolo's dad found and oppertunities for Apolo's talent in lake placid, in New York. Apolo's dad contacted the coach and the coach agreed to accept Apolo. Apolo's dad argued with Apolo for week and Apolo didnt want to go, his dad sent him anyway. Apolo's dad drove him to the airport with his ticket and left. Apolo waited for his dad to leave and then called his freind to pick him up, and he did. Apolo spent a week partying and hanging out with friends before his dad found out. His dad found him and was extremly embarrised at what his son did. Apolo's dad went with Apolo to New York to ensure he woulnt run away. After a few days in training the coach belives Apolo will be great one day.
Review part 5
Apolo has become very fast, and has won junior nationals. This means he has made the American olimpic team. He practices with the olimpians in Colorado, and the coach pays little attention to him because he is young. Apollo becomes very lazy and stops his hard practicing. He went to an international meet, and didnt care that he did awful. His dad took him to the coast line in washington and dropped him off for one week to think if he wants to contunuie skateing. He finds out that thats what he love and comes back training harder than ever before. His trainer thinks that he will burn out.
Review Part 6
Apolo has a new mind set. His dad forced him to choose skating or a profession. Apolo chose to skate. He found himself beliving in himself and having a deep hunger for achivements. He has a new trainer that pays a lot of attention to him, and makes him train a lot harder. His work ethic increased and he started passing all the olimpians in practice. Slowly but surly he was number one. He was winning a lot of races. Being so young he is still pursuing the path to the olimpics.
Review part 7
Apollo finally got himself together and started to sate fast. He won many meets. He got new skates, and you are supposed to break the skates in. Apollo didnt do that and in one race he was in winning position, and his skates gave out and he went flying into the boards on the sides of the rinks. He got up and finished second. He later found out he had hurt his back, and had chronic back problems. He said when he would train it would hurt really bad, but his hunger and ambition fueled him and blocked out the pain while he was training. A few meets later he falls again and both of his knee caps get out of place, he said it felt like knifes in his knees. He poped one knee cap in place and finished in second. That same meet he fell again, but there were luckily no injuries. His knees hurt for a while from the injury, but he continued to train hard.
Review part 8
Apolo learns that to be better he need to learn how to expell pain. He learned the mental strength is something he needs. H e would meditate and recicte to himself what he wanted to accomplish. It worked and he became stronger mentally.He statrted working out with a triathalite, and ran up mountains with him. He used mental starength and became very strong. He started to go to the sauna with the olimpic wrestelers and medidtated in there. He got used to the heat and it helped his breathing. All these extra things he was going made him a lot better. When competitions came around he was winning all the events. He started looking to Muhhamad Ali for cofidence and arrogance, and to be the best you need to be cocky!
November 30, 2010
This is a just okay memoir of an amazing athlete. If you're a fan of Apolo, as I am, then the fact that the book isn't great won't bother you, and if you're not a fan, you won't read it anyway. Co-written (or maybe ghost-written) by Alan Abrahamson, a former sportswriter for the L.A. Times, it covers mainly Apolo's professional life. Apolo's childhood and early teens are briefly covered, but the bulk of the book is about skating. It's been much-hyped that here Apolo finally talks about his absent mother, but he really doesn't say much more about her than he's said in interviews in the past, which is not a lot. Nor does he discuss his personal life as an adult; although he dated speedskater Alison Baver for two years, he doesn't mention her.
What does come through is his intense dedication to his sport and training for it. Early on, his father instilled in him the idea that whatever he did with his life, he needed to put forth a true effort "from the bone," and Apolo definitely takes that to heart. His training regimens go from more serious than average in his early career to completely insane in the months leading up to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. You wouldn't think a human body could take that much punishment, and probably most people's couldn't. Running at high-speed for several hours or leg-pressing one ton of weight aren't things even most world-class athletes do. All of this is detailed as an example of his "zero regrets" philosophy, but this is where the book falls short, I think. In previous interviews where Ohno has talked about his commitment to and accomplishments in speed-skating, his natural humility has shown through. But this doesn't always translate to the page, and so here he sometimes comes across sounding a little arrogant.
The book is strongest in recounting and providing new detail to the races and events that most people are familiar with: the allegations of race-fixing in the 2002 Olympic qualifying races, the crazy 1000 meter pile-up in 2002 that resulted in Australian Steve Bradbury coming out of last place to win the gold, Ohno's "perfect" 500 meter race in 2006, and his DQ in that same race in 2010. There are no huge new revelations here, but he is more candid, notably about the purported rivalry between himself and some of the South Korean skaters.
As sports biographies go, Zero Regrets is no King of the World, but it's an enjoyable read for anyone who's a fan of Ohno or short-track skating in general, and it's a nice portrait of a father and son who are devoted to each other.
What does come through is his intense dedication to his sport and training for it. Early on, his father instilled in him the idea that whatever he did with his life, he needed to put forth a true effort "from the bone," and Apolo definitely takes that to heart. His training regimens go from more serious than average in his early career to completely insane in the months leading up to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. You wouldn't think a human body could take that much punishment, and probably most people's couldn't. Running at high-speed for several hours or leg-pressing one ton of weight aren't things even most world-class athletes do. All of this is detailed as an example of his "zero regrets" philosophy, but this is where the book falls short, I think. In previous interviews where Ohno has talked about his commitment to and accomplishments in speed-skating, his natural humility has shown through. But this doesn't always translate to the page, and so here he sometimes comes across sounding a little arrogant.
The book is strongest in recounting and providing new detail to the races and events that most people are familiar with: the allegations of race-fixing in the 2002 Olympic qualifying races, the crazy 1000 meter pile-up in 2002 that resulted in Australian Steve Bradbury coming out of last place to win the gold, Ohno's "perfect" 500 meter race in 2006, and his DQ in that same race in 2010. There are no huge new revelations here, but he is more candid, notably about the purported rivalry between himself and some of the South Korean skaters.
As sports biographies go, Zero Regrets is no King of the World, but it's an enjoyable read for anyone who's a fan of Ohno or short-track skating in general, and it's a nice portrait of a father and son who are devoted to each other.
June 27, 2019
The book started and ended with his father. I adore and appreciate that. His father plays such a large role in his accomplishments and Apolo doesn't shy away from accepting and celebrating this fact. Some successful individuals either have a hard time with, or completely ignore when a person or support system has helped them achieve what they set out to accomplish. Apolo doesn't have this issue in the least. He gives credit where credit is due and it adds to the story ten-fold.
Short-track speed skating will forever be my favorite Olympic sport. His writing makes reading about short-track speed skating just as interesting and exciting as watching it! During some of his more difficult races or time periods, my heart was actually beating much faster than I would have anticipated while reading about a man skating in an oval. But here I am.
We also need to take just a moment to think about how he talks about dedication, motivation and a love for something you're passionate about. As he prepares for both the Olympics and his time on Dancing with the Stars, he had a similar system. It was such a treat being able to read about how he dedicated not a part of himself to his sport, but his entire self. This is motivation and self-control that a lot of individuals just can't achieve. In the same light Apolo also explains what he had to do to prep for these times in his life, how difficult it was and how he battled his own mind to achieve his goal(s). The motivational page in front of each chapter alone got my mind working.
Apolo is better than yesterday and lives with Zero Regrets, and this is more that just an Olympic Gold Medalist's story. This is a story about what you have to do, what you have to sacrifice & the mindset you have to have to achieve your goals with zero regrets.
I highly recommend.
Short-track speed skating will forever be my favorite Olympic sport. His writing makes reading about short-track speed skating just as interesting and exciting as watching it! During some of his more difficult races or time periods, my heart was actually beating much faster than I would have anticipated while reading about a man skating in an oval. But here I am.
We also need to take just a moment to think about how he talks about dedication, motivation and a love for something you're passionate about. As he prepares for both the Olympics and his time on Dancing with the Stars, he had a similar system. It was such a treat being able to read about how he dedicated not a part of himself to his sport, but his entire self. This is motivation and self-control that a lot of individuals just can't achieve. In the same light Apolo also explains what he had to do to prep for these times in his life, how difficult it was and how he battled his own mind to achieve his goal(s). The motivational page in front of each chapter alone got my mind working.
Apolo is better than yesterday and lives with Zero Regrets, and this is more that just an Olympic Gold Medalist's story. This is a story about what you have to do, what you have to sacrifice & the mindset you have to have to achieve your goals with zero regrets.
I highly recommend.
February 21, 2022
This book is written in easy-to-read, simple narrative prose, the author recounting his trials and successes in the context of his life philosophy: to live with passion, to the fullest, so as to have no regrets. Speaking about why he loved short track skating-> Apolo says: “In perhaps no other aspect of our world can you go head-to-head with your own demons, battle fear and insecurity, and say: ‘Today is the day I am going to perform’ -and, no matter the result, get instant feedback, an exhilaration and clarity that comes with knowing you have truly given all of yourself.” This phrase articulates my experience as a distance runner: the purity of challenging myself every time I ran, having to prove to myself each time as if it was the first time, with the satisfaction of knowing that I did the best I could that day.
August 3, 2017
I absolutely love this book! It's so positive and uplifting. I usually get bored with non-fiction, but that was not a problem here, and it didn't feel repetitive. I love the structure of the book. It oozes positivity. He has a great outlook on life and I love his mentality. Yeah, words are not working for me right now, so I'll just say if you want a book that will inspire you to be positive and strive for your best, this is the book for you. I would definitely read it again and I have so many passages marked to go back and re-read.
May 10, 2020
5 stars because it’s Apolo Ohno. 3.5 stars for the writing. It’s not the best written and comes off more chatty. It also feels confident on the verge of braggy at times, which I would bet was not his intention. He quotes journalists, etc talking about his greatness and it makes a person cringe a bit. Definitely worth reading though!
February 9, 2020
Inspiring story but still not quite clear on how he got off the partying path he was on. His drive and discipline are admirable but his access to top doctors and trainers can’t be underestimated.
Favorite quotations:
-Winning does not always mean coming in first. Second or third even fourth end they are wins too, no matter what anyone says. Real victory isn’t arriving at the finish line with no regrets. You go all out. And then you accept the consequences.
-My personal best is good enough, as long as I give it everything I’ve got.
Favorite quotations:
-Winning does not always mean coming in first. Second or third even fourth end they are wins too, no matter what anyone says. Real victory isn’t arriving at the finish line with no regrets. You go all out. And then you accept the consequences.
-My personal best is good enough, as long as I give it everything I’ve got.
November 8, 2021
Just discovered him on Weight of Gold and read his book! It's like a journey to his mental thoughts, it's so admirable. He has onhand experience to pressure and I think that's what makes him credible. I love what he said on his blog and I quote "As someone who primarily was driven by a fear of failure and that nothing was ever good enough, it was comforting to know that many of my peers also faced the same internal" - https://apoloohno.com/examining-the-w... This resonates to me as I grew up driven by fear of failure as I was raised this way too
January 17, 2018
Not only was this an inspirational book to read at the start of the year, it also has me excited to watch the athletes at the upcoming Olympic Games. We know they work hard to be the best in their sport, but Ohno gives insight into the mental aspect, the nutritional aspect, and the importance of a good support team.
July 7, 2023
This is an interesting book! The author walks a fine line, avoiding both repetition and self-glorification. He describes the specific ways he did both physical and mental preparation for his speed skating. He is great at not blaming others and at accepting his lot in life. This is a great book for teens, even wayward teens. The audiobook is narrated well by the author.
October 18, 2023
PopSugar Reading Challenge - Prompt 33 “ A book about an athlete/sport."
"In the meantime, eight is a good number - a great number, a lucky number for me, meaningful to me on so many different levels. It's the yin and the yang. It's infinity. The possibilities are endless."
"We need to work hard and dream big dreams and chase those dreams with abandon, with zero regrets."
"In the meantime, eight is a good number - a great number, a lucky number for me, meaningful to me on so many different levels. It's the yin and the yang. It's infinity. The possibilities are endless."
"We need to work hard and dream big dreams and chase those dreams with abandon, with zero regrets."
March 25, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, the second one in the husband challenge!
Apolo really knows the best way to tell his story, and it's an enjoyable one from start to finish. It's amazing to see what it really takes to be an Olympic champion!
Apolo really knows the best way to tell his story, and it's an enjoyable one from start to finish. It's amazing to see what it really takes to be an Olympic champion!
February 7, 2022
One thing I love about biographies is learning what makes people tick. This book did exactly that. I especially appreciated the chapter on DWTS, since I knew Apolo would win that season and because it showed the impact it made on his life.
June 14, 2017
inspirational
October 19, 2017
Apolo is deadass about training. Sports psychology insights are great too.
December 1, 2019
Interesting and neat journey on how Apolo Ohno became the Olympian we all know and cheered for during his Olympic era.
Read
May 3, 2021Very inspiring. I would read it again and have made notes over important quotes for my own motivation.
December 22, 2021
Saved my year
This book has helped me stay motivated during the height of the pandemic when there seemed to be a hundred regrets to think about. Great great read
This book has helped me stay motivated during the height of the pandemic when there seemed to be a hundred regrets to think about. Great great read
January 22, 2022
A very good sports autobiography! Apolo was a very intense competitor with insane training methods.
January 24, 2022
Fascinating read on the diet and training regimen -- while growing into manhood -- that lies behind being a world champion.
March 19, 2023
Life-changing read! Opened my eyes to the value of dicipline and the pleasure to be found in hard work.
May 30, 2023
This book is ok honestly. Way too much detail and I wouldn’t recommend it for others to read. Of course a beautiful story of a great Olympian, but could have been much more interesting.
February 21, 2025
Really enjoyed this book. His story is inspirational and a window into the rigors of being an elite athlete.
November 23, 2025
This was good and fun to see the behind the scenes of Apolo’s career. His outlook on life and results from competitions is inspiring and makes you second guess how you think about things.
April 19, 2012
Apolo Anton Ohno's book. This book was a great, motivational read, perfect for the last day of the year when most people are buckling down to make new years resolutions. While I read Ohno's previous book, it was more of a book aimed at kids, this book was for adults. He talked about his upbringing, his mother briefly and dove right into how he got into speed skating and certain events. Very interesting. I am a fair weather fan and not embarrassed to admit it. I "discovered" him back in 2002 and have lightly been following his career ever since, especially around the Olympics. Very interesting read about his life previous to those games as I didn't know much. He touched for a chapter on his experience on DANCING WITH THE STARS which I knew nothing about as pretty much when his season started I left for New Zealand and they don't air the US version of the show there (not that I would watch it, I never have before) but the next thing I knew is hearing that he won, which I was not surprised about. Dancers and sports people always win that game. I thought he won it with nearly no effort, so it was interesting to read about his experience with it. And then of course, getting back into shape for 2010 last year as he is considered "old" for the sport now (how depressing).
I read this book at a good time. Start of a new year, a great motivational tool. I like Apolo Ohno a lot and I think he's got a good career ahead of him, no matter what he does. He has always been one of my favorite Olympians, never seem to need much media training. But then, what do I know:-). Look how hot he is!
I read this book at a good time. Start of a new year, a great motivational tool. I like Apolo Ohno a lot and I think he's got a good career ahead of him, no matter what he does. He has always been one of my favorite Olympians, never seem to need much media training. But then, what do I know:-). Look how hot he is!
April 16, 2012
I love Apolo Ohno. LOVE him. (Not like the "marry me" kind of way, but the "role model" kind of way.) When I first found out about him, he was on Dancing with the Stars. My mom, who already knew who he was from the Olympics (I wasn't that interested in the Olympics at that time, but my, has that changed...), explained to me who he was. For a while, I didn't know anything about him but the guy who won "Dancing".
A little while later, the Vancouver Olympics came. (AWESOME games, btw.) I was drawn to speed skating. I fell in love with it, and along with it, Apolo Ohno. (J.R. Celski too, who Ohno mentions in this book, but that's beside the point). His book came out shortly after the games. I was excited. I got it the Christmas it came out, and I haven't gotten to read it until now.
Apolo Ohno is an inspiring, fascinating person. If there's a more motivating, encouraging person on this Earth, introduce me, but until then, I give that title to Apolo.
I loved learning about Ohno's past, including his rags to riches kind of story, which lacked the cheesiness of most of that kind of story. His writing is to the point and informative. Very "this is how it happened and I refuse to let it bother me anymore."
If you want inspiration, motivation to work-out, or just want to know what it's like in a day in the life of a speed skater, or even the world's most famous speed-skater, then read this. It's a great book and I have already lent it out as a suggestion. Get your hands on this book!
A little while later, the Vancouver Olympics came. (AWESOME games, btw.) I was drawn to speed skating. I fell in love with it, and along with it, Apolo Ohno. (J.R. Celski too, who Ohno mentions in this book, but that's beside the point). His book came out shortly after the games. I was excited. I got it the Christmas it came out, and I haven't gotten to read it until now.
Apolo Ohno is an inspiring, fascinating person. If there's a more motivating, encouraging person on this Earth, introduce me, but until then, I give that title to Apolo.
I loved learning about Ohno's past, including his rags to riches kind of story, which lacked the cheesiness of most of that kind of story. His writing is to the point and informative. Very "this is how it happened and I refuse to let it bother me anymore."
If you want inspiration, motivation to work-out, or just want to know what it's like in a day in the life of a speed skater, or even the world's most famous speed-skater, then read this. It's a great book and I have already lent it out as a suggestion. Get your hands on this book!
November 29, 2010
I enjoyed the book. Not the greatest writing, but he wrote it himself, so I'm impressed. He explcitly said that he didn't want to just write about his victories and wanted to include his philosophy for success that could be applied to everything. Personally, I was just looking for a memoir, so I can't really gauge how inspiring it was.
He talked a lot about giving 100% and having no regrets, and the training he pursued for the last Olympics (2010) was definietley intense and maybe even insane. He certainly worked hard every singdle ay to achieve his goal of being at the top of his game for 2010.
However, I'm not sure that his philosophy can be applied to everything that a "regular" person would do. He was very lucky to have a father who was willing to drive him around rhe country so he could compete in swimming, in-line skating, and finally short-track. He also was able to train so hard because he focused solely on his training (really his job). He purposely limited his contact with the outside world, which is not something you can always do, especially if you're a parent or caretaker. In addition he had access to top trainers, doctors, etc. He contacted a top trainer who left his other clients to work strictly with Apolo for the 2010 Olympics. So while his dedication and philosophy are commendable, they aren't necessarily applicable to the real world.
He talked a lot about giving 100% and having no regrets, and the training he pursued for the last Olympics (2010) was definietley intense and maybe even insane. He certainly worked hard every singdle ay to achieve his goal of being at the top of his game for 2010.
However, I'm not sure that his philosophy can be applied to everything that a "regular" person would do. He was very lucky to have a father who was willing to drive him around rhe country so he could compete in swimming, in-line skating, and finally short-track. He also was able to train so hard because he focused solely on his training (really his job). He purposely limited his contact with the outside world, which is not something you can always do, especially if you're a parent or caretaker. In addition he had access to top trainers, doctors, etc. He contacted a top trainer who left his other clients to work strictly with Apolo for the 2010 Olympics. So while his dedication and philosophy are commendable, they aren't necessarily applicable to the real world.
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