Announcer: From late night TV to the morning shows; from a quick visit with Rosie to a Rolling Stone photo shoot, Ohno is basking in the glory of his newfound celebrity. But the like the sport he has come to personify, Ohno's formative years were fast, furious, and not without some danger. Apolo is the only child of Yuki Ohno, a Japanese immigrant. A single father, Yuki was devoted to his son. He was also a strict disciplinarian, and the two were often at odds. Growing up in Seattle, Apolo admits he was just a step away from trouble and ran with a tough crowd. Maybe that explains the "bady boy" image he can't quite let go of - even today!!!
Stone: You say skating changed you. How so?
Apolo: I think it definitely changed me as far as goals and things in life. Um, it made me mature a little earlier than I would have if I wasn't involved in skating.
Announcer: At 14, Ohno reluctantly became the youngest athlete ever accepted at the US Olympic training center in Lake Placid, New York - 3000 miles from his home.
Stone: You weren't exactly dedicated.
Apolo: No. [laughs] I didn't want to be there, you know, and it was like, you know, 2 to 3 mile runs in the morning every single day. And my buddy, we'd kinda hang in the back you know jog and uhh, every day we'd jog past this uhh Pizza Hut and we'd you know sneak in there, eat some pizza, and then on the way back, you know, cuz no one knew we left. On the way back, they'd come back and we would hop on in the back. And that went on for uhh 2 or 3 weeks you know before, uh, the coach found out.
Stone: Your coach says there was a turning point. When he announced to the team the results of everyone's body fat percentages and yours was the highest.
Apolo: I don't know. I was angry you know. I was like, "this is a joke" (laughs) you know but...
Stone: Your coach says you came to him after that and said, "I don't want to be the fattest, I don't want to be the slowest, I want to be the best."
Apolo: Exactly
Stone: You remember telling him?
Apolo: Yeah. I just [snaps his fingers] just like, ya know, over night just totally changed. And you know, I told him "Just train me hard. I want to be a machine."
Announcer: Over the years, there were many who contributed to Apolo's growth as a skater. No one came close to that strict disciplinarian Apolo now considers a teammate in the truest sense of the word: his father.
Apolo: We definitely had our arguments and our struggles, too. But I think when it comes down to it, working as a team you know and him supporting me skating as definitely, you know. He does 100 percent.
Stone: Was there a time when you did not appreciate that?
Apolo: Yeah...
Stone: Not really understand that?
Apolo: Definitely, you know, when I was younger. Just, ya know, like just being a normal kid is being rebellious and, uh, you know towards parents. And, ya know, he says "yes," I say "no." Ya know, he says "red," I say "blue." And getting older, and uh admiring him and seeing the things that he's gone through and how hard he works, you can definitely you know feel what you know he does for me.
Announcer: Though he credits his father, a hair dresser by trade, for much of his success. There is one part of Apolo that is strictly his own creation: his hair.
Apolo: I'm like, "Dad, you know, I want two inches here, two inches there," and he is like, "Okay" and just chops it off.
Stone: So he just basically does what you tell him to do when it comes to your hair?
Apolo: Yeah, I get all mad when he tries to style it up.
Stone: The million dollar question: What hair product do you use?
Apolo: [laughs] I don't know if I can answer that!
Stone: But think about the endorsement possibilities there. I mean, because you know, it's a look you got there
Apolo: [laughs] It could be definitely. You know, I think it might bring its opportunities, but that's not my field you know. I'm just a skater.
Announcer: Money and fame. He seems destined for both. But for now, anyway, Ohno says the ice is what he cares about most.
Stone: You know, when you were by yourself now. Away from the crowds and the fans and reporters. What do you hope for?
Apolo: You know, hopefully I can just really stay on track. I don't want to change, ya know, from what I am, the person I am. Um, definitely, I'm gonna have fun and live it up you know because I'm not gonna let that go. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. At the same time, you know, still, still skating is my passion and that's something I want to be involved in athletically. And you know, I just don't wanna get too wrapped up in so many things that I can't still pursue you know what I wanna do. I still wanna skate hard.
Stone: If you look closely at Ohno's new gold medal, there's actually a dent in the bottom; from where he bit into it to make sure it was real. Later tonight, Dateline brings you more gold medal stories - an intimate look at the athletes. From Canadian skaters Jamie Sale and David Pelletier to Michelle Kwan - her first primetime interview since the games. "After the Gold Rush," a Dateline Olympic special coming up tonight at 10, 9 central.