Jay: Okay now tell us...explain exactly what the whole...I kinda understand the controversy, but tell me in your words.
Apolo: Uh, basically, I was passing, ya know, I passed into second place and then I set up the guy in front of me, the Korean skater, in front of me, to pass on the inside. And, in short track, when you are passing somebody, if you have more speed...and you're in the inside track, um, you pretty much have the right a way. And, the Korean skater's on the outside track, so, he moved from his track over to my track...pretty much just block me. And that's why the call was made.
Jay: Okay, so that's the illegal part. It's not actually hitting you, it's the actual block, 'cause I thought...
Apolo: It's called impeding on another skater's track...there's a couple rules in there also.
Jay: Now, didn't they accuse you of oh 'Grandstanding'? Or something at that point?
Apolo: Yeah, someone said that, but I mean...
Jay: What did they base that...what did that mean?
Apolo: They said that I faked it to influence the judges, ya know, but I mean, that's pretty planned out. Ya know, I was racing 1500m at the Olympics...and one pass I make, ya know, definitely it's pretty impossible, for sure.
Jay: Were you as surprised when that happened? Or in your mind did he cut you off and in your mind did you say, "Well that's it, he's gonna be disqualified"? Or did you just think...
Apolo: There's a possibility, ya know? Definitely, ya know, crossed the line, I was contemplating whether they were gonna make a call or not, but ya know, it really wasn't my place to say. So, I just pretty much had to wait it out, I was happy either way, get another silver, ya know?
Jay: Well, sure, but I remember and people were mad at you! South Koreans were emailing you, but it's not your fault, it's the judges call. I mean, you woulda been happy with either call, right, whatever it was.
Apolo: Right.
Jay: Now when you fall, like in the first race, the 1000m...when guys go down like that, do they try to take everybody with em? (laughter)
Apolo: Haha! No. Pretty much just when you're going down, you're going down. I mean, like I said, you hit hard. Um, that was definitely an accident I've never seen, ya know.
Jay: Now if the Australian kid had gone down too, if everybody went down, would they then start the race again?
Apolo: I dunno, they might've, because all the skaters went down.
Jay: 'Cause sometimes they do, don't they.
Apolo: Might've, might've been nice! (laughter)
Jay: Now let's talk about your dad...your dad was really instrumental in your career.
Apolo: Yes, um...(wild cheering) [Apolo claps for his dad]
Jay: He's like a cool guy, wasn't he like...didn't you say he was like a famous hairdresser to the stars?
Apolo: Yeah, ya know, before I was born of course. Um, he told me he used to fly back and forth from London and New York, ya know, he'd be the guy behind the scenes. And the girls would go out and do their, ya know, their little catwalk show [Apolo motions with his whole body] (cheering) and they'd come back, do their hair up [Apolo motions with his hands] (more cheering).
Jay: Do the hair thing...
Apolo: Yeah, so, ya know, that was good. But he's definitely supported me 100% the whole way. Um, (cheering)...
Jay: Now, were you ever a rebellious kid? Were you ever like a rebellious teenager?
Apolo: Oh of course, ya know? Haha!! (cheering)
Jay: Like what, what would you do?
Apolo: Uh, one case, ya know, actually starting my career skating, um, I was 14 years old, my dad was gonna ship me off to Lake Placid, New York. And, um, ya know, he drops me off at the airport, I've got my bags and he's like "Alright, ya know, have fun," and as soon as I got there I make a phone call for one of my buddies to pick me up and then I was zoomed out, ya know? (mild laughter)
Jay: So you stayed in Seattle?
Apolo: Yeah, stayed in Seattle for about a week..and uh..
Jay: How did you not...[Jay laughs]
Apolo: Haha...my dad, ya know, he's callin up the coach in New York, like ya know, "Apolo hasn't called me, what's going on?" So, that was, uh, definitely a little rebellion there. Haha. (mild laughter)
Jay: But then you got it straightened out...
Apolo: Yes, yeah, um, ya know, definitely I think any relationship, ya know, especially mind, being with ya know my father, ya know, he's raised me by himself. There had to be a lot of trust, a lot of committment, ya know, not just a father-son relationship, he had to be, ya know, for him to work with me in skating, he's got to be part of my team, part of my, just part of my support staff..so...
Jay: Well, he did a good job...
Apolo: Yeah! Thank you very much! (cheering)
Jay: Congratulations, man, very proud of you. Apolo Anton Ohno!! (cheering)
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