about kristi

Bio | Skating Photos | What's up with Kristi

Kristi's bio

Hometown Fremont, CA

Birthday July 12

Competitive Highlights Olympic Gold Medalist - 1992
World Champion - 1992, 1991
World Junior Ladies and Pairs Champion - 1988
World Pro Figure Skating Champion - 1997, 1996, 1994, 1992
1992 US Ladies National Champion
1989- 1990 US National Pairs Champion

Awards 2004 Flo Hyman Award-Women's Sports Foundation
2002 Named Most Influential Person in Figure Skating (International Figure Skating Magazine)
1998 World Figure Skating Hall of Fame
1998 US Figure Skating Hall of Fame
1996 Skater of the Year (American Skating World)
1996 - 1998 Favorite Female Athlete (Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards)
1989 Athlete of the Year for Figure Skating (U. S. Olympic Committee)

Favorite Routines "Doop Doop", "Bridge Over Troubled Waters"
Kristi Skating Skating's Best and Brightest: A dominant force and major star in the world of figure skating, Kristi Yamaguchi is considered a veteran professional. Her professional career is marked by numerous major championship titles and critically acclaimed performances earning her accolades from major sportswriters as the 'best female skater in the world.' She has recently finished her 10th year of touring with Stars on Ice along with fellow Olympic medalists Katrina Witt, Ilia Kulik, Todd Eldridge and Tara Lipinski.
Her professional skating success follows a tremendous amateur career. Kristi was one of the first American women to compete in both pairs events and ladies' singles. She and her partner (Rudi Galindo) were the 1988 World Junior Pairs Champions. In that same championship, Kristi also won the Ladies' World Junior Championship title. She ultimately decided to focus on singles skating and in 1991, Kristi won the World Championships. In 1992 Kristi won the US National Championship, fulfilled a life-long dream by winning the Olympic Gold Medal in Albertville and defended her World title in her hometown in Oakland. In 1998 Kristi returned to the U.S. National Championships to be inducted into the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
Most Popular Female Athlete: Kristi is one of the most popular female athletes in the country, as indicated by numerous awards and surveys, including being recognized three years in a row as Favorite Female Athlete by Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards. Her Q ratings, which measure likeability and popularity, continue to rank her one of the top three women athletes. Kristi served as Goodwill Ambassador for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Kristi Gold
Corporate America loves Kristi too. She has served as spokesperson for Celanese Acetate, General Mills, PrimeStar, Heinz Smart Ones, and Mervyn's California. Kristi has appeared in top fashion magazines for Celanese Acetate and in a number of TV ads for Mervyn's California. As part of their legends series, Kristi recently re-appeared on the Wheaties box. Other projects that have recently been released include two books, Figure Skating for Dummies, which she authored, and a children's book titled Always Dream, a CD-ROM and a fantasy children's line of Kristi Dreamwear by Mervyn's California. Kristi has also worked with Hallmark to develop a Christmas ornament and a skating snow globe in her likeness.
Kristi Skating Always Dream Foundation: Kristi is very passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of children. In 1996, Kristi established the "Always Dream" Foundation whose mission is to encourage, support and embrace the hopes and dreams of children.
The Always Dream Foundation supports organizations in California, Nevada and Hawaii which are dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of children. . The Foundation has produced two skating productions entitled "A Golden Moment", a unique figure skating show, combining the world's finest figure skaters with some of the music industry's brightest stars.

Copyright © Kristi Yamaguchi & Always Dream Foundation, 2003-2009
Always Dream® is a registered trademark of Kristi Yamaguchi and The Always Dream Foundation.-2005