Kristi Yamaguchi

figure skating · Olympic champion · trailblazer · 1992

Olympic Champion. Kristi Yamaguchi won the gold medal in figure skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. This made her the first Asian American ever to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics.

Graceful Pairs Skating. Before competing as a solo skater, Kristi was a pairs figure skater with her partner Rudy Galindo. Together they won the World Junior championship in 1988 and were national champions twice.

World Champion. Kristi won the World Figure Skating Championship twice, showing she was one of the best skaters in the entire world. Her beautiful performances inspired people everywhere to love figure skating.

Author and Helper. After retiring from competitive skating, Kristi became an author and philanthropist, which means she uses her success to help other people. She works to make a positive difference in communities around the world.

Competitive Success. In 1992, the same year she won Olympic gold, Kristi also became the U.S. national champion in figure skating. She had an incredible year that changed her life forever.