VOA标准英语2010年-Ohno Becomes Most Decorated US Winter

Canada's Charles Hamelin, left, and USA's Apolo Anton Ohno, right, compete during the first race of the men's 1000m quarterfinals short track skating competition at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, 20 Feb 2010

Having won his sixth and seventh career Olympic medals in Vancouver, short track speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno is now the most decorated Winter Olympian in U.S. history.

Ohno made his first Olympic appearance as a 19-year-old at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games.  There, he won a gold medal in the 1,500 meters and a silver in the 1,000 meters.

Four years later at the Turin Olympics, Ohno won three short track speed skating medals, a gold in the 500 meters, and bronze in the 1,000 meters and 5,000-meter relay¹.

In Vancouver, he has earned a silver in the 1,500 meters and a bronze in the 1,000 meters.  With those results, he tied and then passed long track speed skater Bonnie Blair for the most Winter Olympics medals won by an American.  Blair achieved her six - five of them gold - in the 1988, 1992 and 1994 Olympics.

When the 27-year-old Ohno won number seven here, Saturday, he was aware his total had passed a legend. "It feels amazing.  I wouldn't be human if I didn't say it feels amazing," he said.

But Ohno added that passing Bonnie Blair's total has not been his focus. "I don't put labels on myself," he said.  "I consider myself just to be an athlete at my third Olympic Games, competing my heart out." 

"You know, I never came into these Olympic Games trying to break records or trying to tie any medal count.  I do this sport first and foremost² because I love it.  My goal was to come out here and pour my heart and soul into these Olympic games, and I've had no regrets up to this point," he added.

And Ohno says he does not dwell³ on previous successes. "As an athlete, you never really look - at least I don't - I don't look back at the past medals that I've won.  I remember all the struggles and the sacrifices I've made to get to this point.  I've always lived my life thinking anything is possible.  I don't care how fast somebody is skating, I don't care how good a team is skating, anything is possible in my sport," he said.

Apolo Anton Ohno, who still sports his trademark⁴ "soul-patch" [of facial hair] just above his chin, says his hard work has paid off.  "I prepared for these games like I've never prepared for anything in my life.  And, being one of the older skaters at 27, it feels good to be here still competing hard and representing the U.S. the best I can," he said.

Ohno could add to his Olympics short track speed skating medal total.  Yet to come at these Winter Games are the men's 500 meters and 5,000-meter relay.

 

1 relay   

n.接力赛，中继转播（设备）；vt.转述，转播

参考例句：

• They will relay your message.他们会转达你的口信。
• This metal tower is used to relay television signals to distant villages.这个金属塔是用于向遥远的村子转播电视讯号的。

2 foremost   

adj.最初的，最前的，第一流的；adv.在最前

参考例句：

• He is considered the foremost British artist of this century.他被认为是本世纪英国第一流的艺术家。
• The premier occupies the foremost place in the world of politics.首相是政界的首要人物。

3 dwell   

vi.老是想着，详细讲述

参考例句：

• Sometimes his mind would dwell on the horrors he had been through.有时他会老是想着他所经历过的种种恐怖。
• A great number of water fowls dwell on the island.许多水鸟在岛上栖息。

4 trademark   

n.商标；特征；vt.注册的…商标

参考例句：

• The trademark is registered on the book of the Patent Office.该商标已在专利局登记注册。
• The trademark of the pen was changed.这钢笔的商标改了。