I’ve realized how precious life is. When I was younger, I was more adventurous. I felt invincible. I was game for everything. As a mom, I don’t want to get injured because then I can’t take care of my kids. – Kristi Yamaguchi
My experience at the 1992 Winter Olympics was my fulfillment of dreaming the Impossible Dream. – Kristi Yamaguchi
Being an athlete, you know how to train and prepare your body for a performance and you’re able to do it under pressure. – Kristi Yamaguchi
I’d try to channel my nervous energy in a positive way into strength and endurance. It didn’t always work. – Kristi Yamaguchi
Skating was something I really wanted to do; my parents knew nothing about it. They said they’d support me as long as I was trying my hardest and enjoying it. – Kristi Yamaguchi
I don’t mind the sparkle – I think it’s kind of a tradition in skating. I don’t think the men really need sparkles, but for the women it’s part of the glamour of our sport. – Kristi Yamaguchi
I always try to start out with some type of goal. Then I work backward and think of what I need to do to get there, and give myself smaller goals that are more immediate. – Kristi Yamaguchi
They say, once you have a child, your heart is forever outside your body. I totally understand that now. – Kristi Yamaguchi
There are two or three performances in your life that are absolutely on, where all the planets are lined up for you and you feel you’re invincible. – Kristi Yamaguchi
As a professional, I think we’re not being judged solely on technical ability anymore. People really want to be entertained and enjoy what they’re watching. – Kristi Yamaguchi
The past couple years training with Kurt have really brought inspiration into my skating. – Kristi Yamaguchi
Dorothy Hamill was my big idol as a kid. She’d won the Olympics in 1976. She was America’s sweetheart with her personality, her talent, her haircut. – Kristi Yamaguchi
I don’t know how many people really knew who I was before the Olympics and that’s the fun thing of the Olympics – you get to know someone who captures your heart, hopefully. – Kristi Yamaguchi
Now, I am thrilled to be a wife and mother, and I hope to be as good of a mother as my own mother, Carole. – Kristi Yamaguchi
Before turning pro, I would never have just left my skates sitting in the locker room unattended. – Kristi Yamaguchi
Having achieved my own dreams, I want to give to kids who are less fortunate, who struggle with everyday obstacles. I want to give them something positive in their lives: support. – Kristi Yamaguchi
At 6 years old, the ice became a place for me to express myself. Because I was so shy off the ice, it became my safe haven, with music and freedom and self-expression. That was my emotional outlet. – Kristi Yamaguchi
Winning in women’s singles felt surreal. I felt that everything I had done – the hard work, the tough times – was all worth it. – Kristi Yamaguchi
Growing up as an athlete, I started skating very young. My parents didn’t know anything about the sport, so they went with the flow. I had two great coaches who gave great advice and gave guidelines for my parents. My parents let the coaches dictate what was going on on the ice. – Kristi Yamaguchi
