Kristi Yamaguchi Tickets

Kristi Yamaguchi
Kristi Tsuya Yamaguchi was born on July 12, 1971. She is an American figure skater, and she was honored by her induction into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in December 2005. Kristi Yamaguchi is from Hayward, California, and is a fourth-generation Japanese American, whose grandparents who stood witness to the United States' anti-Japanese policies during World War II.

Kristi Tsuya Yamaguchi attended the Mission San Jose High School in Fremont, California. Apart from this, she began skating as a child. This served as physical therapy for her club feet.

In 1986, along with Rudy Galindo, Kristi Tsuya Yamaguchi won the junior title at the U.S. championships. A couple of years later, she won the singles, and she also won the pairs titles with Galindo at the 1988 World Junior Pair Championships. In 1989, this pair also won the senior U.S. championships pairs title, and they repeated the same result in 1990.As a team, Yamaguchi and Galindo were uncommon because they were both top class singles skaters. They also were amazing when they jumped and could spin in opposite directions. Yamaguchi would do it counter-clockwise, and Galindo would do it clockwise.

By 1990, Yamaguchi wanted to concentrate entirely on singles while Galindo carried on a successful singles career. Galindo won the 1996 U.S. championships and also the 1996 World bronze medal.In 1991, Kristi Tsuya Yamaguchi was coached by Christy Ness. Yamaguchi was placed second to Tonya Harding at the U.S. championships. This was her third successive silver medal at the National competition. A month later in Munich, Germany, Yamaguchi took the 1991 World Championships. The same year, the American ladies team, [Harding, Yamaguchi and Nancy Kerrigan], were the first and only national team to gain its members place first, second and third at World competitions.

In 1992, Kristi Tsuya Yamaguchi earned her first U.S. title. She also achieved a position to enter the 1992 Winter Olympic Games in Albertville, France. Along side her on the U.S. team were her previous team mates, Kerrigan and Harding. Despite Kristi taking the gold medal, Nancy Kerrigan overshadowed her in publicity and endorsements. Yamaguchi did win endorsement deals from Wendy's and DuraSoft Colors contact lenses. However, these were not multimillion-dollar deals. Some Asian supporters said that this was due to her Asian heritage. Bill Imada, whose firm advises companies on marketing to Asian Americans observes that for marketers People like Kristi Yamaguchi don't represent the wholesome all-American image.

Kristi Tsuya Yamaguchi became a professional skater after the 1992 season. Kristi toured with Stars on Ice for some years, and was even a fixture on the pro competition circuit. Recent years have seen her cut back on her skating schedule because of family life.

Kristi Tsuya Yamaguchi married Bret Hedican [an NHL hockey player] in 2000. They had met at the 1992 Winter Olympics. Yamaguchi and Hedican have two daughters, Keara Kiyomi and Emma Yoshiko.

Kristi Tsuya Yamaguchi established the Always Dream Foundation for children in 1996. Michelle Kwan and Kurt Browning remain her friends.