One of the hottest competitors at the 2002 olympics at salt lake city was 19-year-old apolo ohno. his event was short track speed skating, americans were pinning their hopes on this young man for more than one reason. they wanted a u. s. win, of course. but just as important, a medal at the olympics would be a personal victory for apolo. apolo's mother left the family when he was one year old he was raised in seattle by his father, yukio. yukio had his parenting work cut out for him. in day care, apolo climbed over the fence, as a latchkey kid, he didn't always come home. he sometimes disappeared on weekends. he hung out mostly with a bad crowd. the father and son fought constantly yukio considered sending apolo to military school. at the same time, yukio kept trying to get apolo interested in some activities, such as choir, swimming, and in-line skating. nothing worked until apolo was watching the 1994 olympics. a new event was introduced: short-track speed skating the boy was 11 years old, and he was hooked.