Kristi Yamaguchi is a well-known figure skater and TV personality. She represented the United States at the 1992 Winter Olympics, and bagged several prestigious titles on the national and international level throughout her skating career. Although she made many appearances in films and television in the last few years, Kristi Yamaguchi’s Dancing with the Stars win was definitely one to remember. She recently made a sizzling return on the 25th season of the show. Keep reading to know more about her!
Kristi Yamaguchi’s wiki is filled with success stories. Besides her famed win at the 1992 Olympics, Yamaguchi is also the winning celebrity from season 6 of Dancing with the Stars. While the pro figure skater was not approached to be a part of the “All-Star” season in 2012, she recently performed in the eighth week of the show’s current ongoing season.
In the most recent episode, Kristi Yamaguchi performed with Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas as they three-way waltzed to “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” by Seth MacFarlane.
Who Is Kristi Yamaguchi?
Kristi Yamaguchi was born to Carole and Jim Yamaguchi on July 12, 1971. The Olympic star has Japanese roots but was born and raised in the United States.
Yamaguchi began skating at a very young age. She went on to win the junior title at the U.S. Championships in 1986 along with Rudy Galindo, marking her first professional win at skating. The duo also won the 1988 World Junior Championships, and senior pairs title at the U.S. Championships in 1989 and 1990.
In her singles career, Yamaguchi won several championships, including her coveted Olympic win.
The skating diva also wrote several bestselling books such as Always Dream, Pure Gold, and Dream Big, Little Pig.
She was also part of the television industry and hosted WE tv’s Skating’s Next Star, and worked as the official NBC Olympics skating broadcaster on Universal Sports Network.
Due to her successful skating career, Kristi Yamaguchi’s net worth sits at a whopping $8.0 million.
Kristi Yamaguchi Is a Mother and Wife
In addition to being a successful sportswoman and TV personality, Kristi Yamaguchi is a family person at heart. She is married to former pro hockey player, Bret Hedican, who she first met during the 1992 Winter Olympics. The couple dated for several years before finally tying the knot on July 8, 2000.Kristi Yamaguchi’s husband also had his share of success. He is a proud, two-time Olympian and a Stanley Cup champion.
Kristi Yamaguchi’s age is 46, and she is the proud mother of the couple’s two daughters: Keara (aged 12), and Emma (aged 10). Kristi Yamaguchi’s kids are being raised in a good environment, free to follow whatever path they want.
It was a night to remember. Sharing 20 yrs of incredible memories with you all was so heart warming. Thank you to…
Posted by Kristi Yamaguchi on Sunday, October 9, 2016
A self-proclaimed homebody, Yamaguchi believes in taking competition lightly. She is said to be passing down similar values to her children.
Kristi Yamaguchi’s Personal Life
Even though she is active on social media, her life isn’t exactly an open book. She may undoubtedly be an excellent skater and dancer, but there’s more to her than meets the eye.
The star skater was always a staunch believer in empowering children, which led her to establish the Always Dream Foundation in 1996. Since then, she contributed significantly to the cause and is continuing to do so even today.
A little-known fact is that Kristi Yamaguchi is said to have had a difficult childhood herself. She was born with clubfeet, a condition that many would consider as a huge physical hindrance. However, the daring diva took it as a blessing and pursued the impossible in the world of figure skating instead.
To keep her dream alive, she also gave up on much of her social life during school. Because of the intense international travel and training involved, Kristi Yamaguchi hardly made friends while growing up. But it’s alleged that she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Yamaguchi’s sacrifices and dedication earned her a ton of medals throughout the years—all of which she keeps piled up in a large bowl (except for her Olympic gold medal, that is safely tucked away at the U.S. Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs).
A successful Olympian, doting mother, and staunch humanitarian, Kristi Yamaguchi lived a life only few could dream of. And her latest performance on Dancing with the Stars was a treat for many.
