Interview: Apolo Ohno

By Alex Chester

Apolo Ohno, be still my beating heart. I can remember watching him on TV during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and being struck by the fact that I was seeing another mixed-Asian on television. From that moment on I was a big fan of his. I myself can barely rollerblade, let alone speed skate, but because of Apolo, watching the speed skaters has become a favorite event of mine when the Winter Olympic Games air.

Not only is Mr. Ohno the most decorated American Winter Olympian athlete, he is an entrepreneur, role model, and soon-to-be author of a book. Even with his crazy schedule he found the time to chat with me about growing up mixed, being on Dancing with the Stars, boba preference, Asian glow, and of course, his favorite Keanu Reeves movie!

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Interview

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For our readers who don’t know, what makes you Hapa, and do you identify with this word?

Sure, so my father is Japanese. He came to this country when he was seventeen and didn’t speak a word of English. I’m half-Japanese. I guess you could say that on my mom’s side I’m “multi-diverse.” There are many different cultural backgrounds that I have from her. The only reason I know that is because I’ve done these DNA tests multiple times over to find out what I am. I’ve always identified as being Hapa — being half-Japanese — since I was very young and even more so now.

I’m also half-Japanese. I’ve done the 23andMe. The results weren’t very insightful, but more things keep popping up, which I find interesting.

Yeah, it is interesting.

What’s the best thing about being Hapa?

I have a deep appreciation for my Japanese heritage and a lot of respect for my father for leaving Japan and coming to the United States, for trying to forge a new path and new career for himself and build a new life. I think being Hapa, we have all of this heritage, pride, tradition, and cultural influence from that one side of the family, but then there’s a very open progressive democratic idealism associated with being American in terms of the way we approach all things in life. So, to me, there’s a great blend of traditions. As Americans we have our own traditions, but having spent so much time in Asia, I would say it’s wildly and vastly different. I just have a deep appreciation for all these things that my father and grandparents have given me. Whenever I do go back home to Seattle and then go do business in Asia, it’s weird because I feel like I should be there. I just don’t speak the language so it’s very difficult.

I understand. I don’t speak Japanese at all, neither does my father who is Japanese as well. There’s that disconnect.

It is a disconnect, but I think overall there’s a really beautiful association. I think Hapas look different. Whether you’re Hapa, Eurasian, or whatever you want to identify with, I think it’s unique, and more so in 2019 than ever before in the history of our world. People are so much more culturally and ethnically diverse that it makes for some really beautiful human beings, both inside and out.

For sure. What was it like for you growing up being mixed? Were you the only mixed kid in Seattle or were there other Hapa kids for you to talk to? Also, since you started training at such a young age for the Olympics, how was that for you as a Hapa?

Growing up I didn’t actually have a lot of Hapa friends. There definitely is a decent sized population of biracial kids in and around the Seattle area, but most of the kids at my school were what we would call “full blood,” right? I think I probably identified more with just being Asian than I did with being Hapa. It wasn’t really something we spoke about in school, and that’s just who I kind of aligned myself with, in terms of my interests and friends. Seattle itself has become pretty diverse as a city. It’s not like L.A. or San Francisco, but in the last ten years it’s really changed significantly.

The challenges I faced growing up were [in that] I didn’t really identify with being fully Caucasian, and I didn’t really identify with being fully Asian. I was kind of in the middle. On one side it was advantageous because I would bounce around during lunch break and hang out with everybody, but on the other side it was a little confusing because I didn’t really look like anybody else. There were a few [mixed] kids at my school, but not really that many. Now I’ve grown into an appreciation for not only my physical appearance but also my heritage and association with this country that comes from both of my parents.

Cool. So what has life been like for you post Olympics? Do you miss competing?

I miss competing every single day. Life after the Olympics is really interesting. Most people ask, “What does an Olympic champion do when he or she retires?” It’s a great question, and it’s one that I think many Olympic athletes will have to face at some point in their lives, so much so that I’ve decided to write a book about the past ten years of being in retirement, about this incredibly challenging and difficult reinvention stage of our lives where you basically have to pivot and find or identify with another persona that you haven’t yet created.

For fifteen years sport and the Olympic movement was my love. It was my first true love. It taught me, it nurtured me, it showed me I was strong, it showed me discipline and structure, strength and weakness. Then on day eighteen of the Olympic Games, the day after the closing ceremonies, your true love tells you, “I no longer love you. I have a new, younger suitor who is more attractive, better, more genetically inclined to do well in the sport, more celebrated by NBC.”

Now you are in this state where you’re trying to figure out how to be a civilian even though you’re an Olympic champion. “I’m retired at the age of twenty-seven, so what now? What am I good at? What am I interested in? What is exciting to me? What am I passionate about? What skill sets do I have?” There’s this massive influx of confusion, and I call that the great divorce. Now you have to start over from scratch and try to reinvent yourself many times over. I believe that everyone has to do that at certain points in your life. Whether you’re an Olympic champion or leaving college. I don’t think people normally have one career for the rest of their lives. We will have multiple careers and multiple new chapters in our life book. The goal of my book is to show another audience my radically transparent process. Maybe people can take insights from that process, as well as some of the mistakes I’ve made, and distill these ideas with others' who have been able to serial entrepreneurially reinvent themselves and then create some sort of "tool kit" to minimize the pain you’ll have in life. Everyone will always make mistakes, that’s part of growing, however how can we do so in a way that brings more fulfillment and happiness and less pain and failure?

Now, I’m naturally a hyper-curious person, so after I retired, I was very willing to go to Asia, try different businesses, take risks, put myself out there, and fall right on my face. I had some amazing home runs as well as some devastating failures. I think that’s part of life and growing as a human being. As long as you’re always doing the right things and learning from these processes, I think this journey works in perpetuity. Problems and issues can be perceived as opportunities or challenges to grow. That’s when life gets really exciting, and that’s the perspective I try to have on a day-to-day basis. I have a lot of gratitude for my previous life as an Olympic athlete, and hopefully the things I'm excited about now have a strong, positive impact on people and communities around the world.

That’s wonderful. When is your book coming out?

I think we are shooting for next year.

Congratulations! Let’s see, how did training for Dancing With the Stars compare with training for the Olympics?

I get that question often. So, training for Dancing With the Stars was different and very, very difficult. Julianne Hough was my first training partner and, going into that show, I had no idea what I was in for: the show’s production level, that millions and millions of people watch every single weekend, and that I’d be wearing these crazy outfits with sequins and v-neck shirts that were basically a vest. It was interesting. I learned a lot, and I had a lot of fun. The training itself was difficult, but look, at the end of the day I am an Olympic athlete, and the physical pain associated with these projects... you can’t compare. It was hard, don’t get me wrong. It was incredibly hard. I have a whole new found respect for ballroom dancing and all those dancers, and I became really good friends with all of them, as well as all my friends at ABC and the show. They are amazing human beings, they put on a great show, and it’s really tough. Any celebrity or any star who’s looking at trying to become a part of that show, it’s the real deal. It’s not easy. It is produced, but at the end of the day, it requires you to put yourself out there, and I think that’s why people like it.

What has your experience been like when interacting with Japanese nationals and Japanese Americans. Do you feel accepted or do you feel like an outsider?

Look, Japanese Americans are very different than people that live in Japan. That’s very clear. For sure I’ve been accepted. I’ve been so blessed, Alex, in my life to receive such an incredible amount of love from communities of people all over, whether they are Japanese, Chinese American, Peruvian American. I’ve been really blessed and lucky in that respect, but the Japanese American community has really, really given me support and love throughout my career as an Olympic athlete, and even post. I’m forever grateful for that community. I think it’s a beautiful thing. Now, when I go to Japan, am I accepted? I’m accepted as an American. People recognize that my father and my grandparents are Japanese, but they know I don’t speak Japanese. I don’t look typically Japanese, but there’s a sense of pride that I have Japanese blood running through my body, and I was able to accomplish some really cool stuff in the Olympic space, so I do feel accepted there.

Cool. So I see that you’re an extensive traveler. What’s your favorite place you’ve ever visited, and what’s your favorite meal you’ve ever had?

That’s a very difficult question to answer because I love traveling so much. It depends on my mood. I would say I love Asia as a whole because it’s so fascinating. There’s so much depth and texture associated with Asia, and the history there is remarkable. I love traveling to China. I love traveling to Southeast Asia. Japan, though, is incredibly unique because the culture there is rich and has been so preserved. It mixes this incredibly hyper-modern kind of neophyte realism associated with the world with a very traditional Japanese feel. I always tell people if you’re gonna do an Asia trip, finish your trip with Japan. That’s the best way to do it. I think if you go to Japan first, the rest of Asia will be incredible and fun, but it will change your perspective. Japanese people are so incredibly clean, stoic, polite, and organized. You know that culture... and those are just a few of the small attributes associated, right? I would say Japan is one of my favorite places to visit. I feel a sense of calm when I’m there. And for some reason, no matter how much I eat when I’m in Japan, no amount of carbohydrates make me fat. It’s weird. I don’t know what it is.

I think we put a lot of chemicals into our food here in America versus other countries. I’ve noticed the difference as well. I’ve never been to Japan, so I will take that advice.

You have to go! It will change your view on the world. Go to the Olympics! Go to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics!

A bunch of us are kind of playing around with that idea, so we’ll see.

I would say plan ahead.

Fingers crossed it works out. So what’s the best meal you’ve ever had?

There’s no one single meal, because I appreciate food so much. I live to eat. I train and work out to this day so that I can eat. I don’t really drink, so one of my happiest pleasures is when I can share food with friends, and even strangers. I love hosting meals. I love just breaking bread with local people and getting really deep into a culture, so I’m willing to eat anything and everything, as long as it’s not on the endangered animals list... which I’ve been presented with in Asia before. I politely declined. I’ve traveled everywhere from Japan to Slovakia to Ireland, all over Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia. All the meals are fun and exciting.

I’ve had some incredible meals in Japan. There’s a man who has a beef restaurant. I don’t know if you eat meat, but it’s a one-chef, one-person owned restaurant. He’s only open three days a week and there are about four seats. So whenever we go, we book in advance and try to rent out the whole space because it’s so small. It’s like a three-and-a-half hour meal. This guy goes to the market each morning so everything is super fresh. I think the quality and care that these individuals put into their craft is real art and they truly personally care about the product. When you personally care about the outcome of something, that raises your awareness to a degree that you normally wouldn’t have. It’s, “Oh, order some lettuce. Grab some of that type of beef” versus looking, touching, feeling, and asking questions about the history of the particular food source. We don’t have that here in the States, although the concept of farm-to-table is becoming a little more popular. So, when I have the opportunities to do things that special, it’s very memorable.

That place sounds amazing. Do you drink boba tea, and if you do, what’s your go-to?

Haha I do drink boba tea. My “go-to” is probably taro, quarter sweet, and if they have coconut  jelly, I’ll ask for that. I love boba tea, whether I’m in Taiwan or walking around California. When I was younger I used to drink it all the time. It’s just got a little too much sugar for me now.

It does have a lot of sugar. OK another question, do you get Asian glow?

Oh, absolutely! You don’t even want to see me. I’m like a full-on lobster. People ask if I need to go to the hospital. “I’m fine, I’m fine! It’s just really hot in here!” I think I’m legitimately allergic to alcohol to be completely honest with you. I didn’t really drink when I was an athlete, and when I retired, I had obviously spent fifteen years living as a “monk.” I then had some time where I had fun, partied, and kind of let loose. I recognized very quickly that this body is not made to drink alcohol. It’s embarrassing, like it’s uncomfortable for you to be around me if I’m drinking, and not because of my behavior, because of the way I look.

I definitely have a few friends like that. I’m lucky I don’t get Asian glow.

Ugh, you are lucky.

I am lucky. Very random question, but favorite Keanu Reeves movie?

Favorite Keanu Reeves?! I love all Keanu Reeves movies. I think Keanu Reeves is phenomenal. Let me think. I love Keanu Reeves in Point Break because he’s so young. Obviously all The Matrix movies are phenomenal. He’s kind of re-invented himself with John Wick. I just read this thing the other day that there was a plane malfunction going to Bakersfield or something, so he rented a bus for all these people. Then he read from a tour guide manual about Bakersfield on the way there! I was like, this guy is the epitome of what and how you should be if you are a super celebrity. Keanu Reeves is a badass, and he’s just a cool guy. To me Keanu Reeves was one of the first guys with Asian blood who we looked to and said, “This guy makes being multiracial or biracial really cool.” You can’t figure out what he is when you look at him, you know?

What’s next for you? What’s on your agenda?

Well, I’m working on this book, I’m working on new companies, and I’m working on a few new TV shows, which we’ve actually been pitching. I can’t say too much more about it. One of them is about my life, which is interesting and fun. It’s a comedy because I think, in life, the best lessons are through comedy where you can laugh about them later. There are a lot of projects I’m working on that I want to have an impact not only on this younger generation, Gen Z  and millennials who are coming up and about to take hold of this world, but also those who are looking to reinvent themselves and understand themselves more. Hopefully I can put out some great content and great work that people can benefit from. I’m focused on things now that impact our society positively.

Do you have any advice for our Hapa Mag community?

I think first and foremost I have immense gratitude for the community, you, and the magazine for shining more light on this incredible group of individuals we call Hapas, as well as Asians and Asian Americans all over the world. I think the advice is to always be proud of your heritage, be proud of who you are, be proud of your distinct, unique physical appearances and upbringing, and the ability to be able to interact with your Asian heritage. I think the world is a beautiful place, and when you take on that perception, that lens, the world starts to become a little more sparkly. It’s brighter, more vibrant, and you’ll have a little bit of a bigger smile.

Wonderful. Thank you so much, it was an absolute pleasure talking with you.

Of course. Thank you, Alex.

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End of Interview

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*This interview has been edited for length and clarity

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Alex Chester is the creator and producer of the theatre company WeSoHapa — a theatre based on diversity and inclusion. She is a New York City based columnist for On Stage Blog and contributing writer for ManhattanDigest.com and HuffPo. She also hosts a podcast with fellow writer Melissa Slaughter, We're Not All Ninjas. Follow her on Twitter/Instagram @AlexFChester if you like food and cats.