Speed Skating Record Holder Apolo Ohno

Apolo Ohno is the most decorated American Winter Olympian in history with eight Olympic medals across three Games– a title he has held onto for over 15 years. But behind the victories is a complex story shaped by rebellion, self-doubt, relentless discipline, and a father who refused to let him quit. In our finale episode of Forging Gold, Apolo joins host Rennae Stubbs to revisit the defining moments behind his career: the 3:30 a.m. training sessions with a flashlight duct-taped to his helmet, the controversy surrounding his first Olympic gold, and an intensity he brought to his sport that scared his competitors. Listen as he opens up about how reconnecting with the pure joy of skating changed everything when it mattered most– and why he ultimately felt he had to walk away from the sport he’d loved for so long.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.