View source for Kristi Yamaguchi

{{Short description|American figure skater (born 1971)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Kristi Yamaguchi
| image              = Kristi Yamaguchi.png
| caption            = Yamaguchi in 2016
| birth_name         =
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1971|7|12|mf=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Fremont, California]], U.S.
| occupation         = {{hlist|[[Figure skater]]|[[author]]|[[philanthropist]]}}
| years_active       =
| notable_works      = ''Dream Big, Little Pig!''
| organizations      = Always Dream
| alma mater         =
| children           = 2
| module             = {{Infobox figure skater
|embed=yes
|image=<!--empty-->
| caption =
| country =
| fullname =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| height = 5ft 2in<ref name=sports-reference>{{cite web|title=Kristi Yamaguchi|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ya/kristi-yamaguchi-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418054118/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ya/kristi-yamaguchi-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 18, 2020|website=sports-reference.com|publisher=[[Sports Reference]]|access-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref><ref name=Creef>{{cite book|last1=Creef|first1=Elena Tajima|url=https://archive.org/details/imagingjapanesea00unse|url-access=registration|title=Imaging Japanese America: The Visual Construction of Citizenship, Nation, and the Body|date=2004|publisher=[[New York University Press]]|location=US|pages=[https://archive.org/details/imagingjapanesea00unse/page/159 159]–160|access-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref>
| partner =
| coach =
| choreographer =
| skating club = St. Moritz ''ISC''
| retired = 1992
| show-medals = yes
| medaltemplates = <!-- see [[Template:MedalRelatedTemplates]] -->
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalSport | [[Single skating|Ladies']] [[figure skating]] }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Olympic Games]] }}
{{MedalGold|[[Figure skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics|1992 Albertville]]|[[Figure skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics|Ladies' singles]] }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1991 World Figure Skating Championships|1991 Munich]]|Ladies' singles}}
{{MedalGold| [[1992 World Figure Skating Championships|1992 Oakland]]|Ladies' singles}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|World Junior Championships]] }}
{{MedalGold| [[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|1988 Brisbane]] | Ladies' singles}}
{{MedalSport | [[Pair skating|Pairs']] [[figure skating]] }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|World Junior Championships]] }}
{{MedalGold| [[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|1988 Brisbane]] | Pairs}}
{{MedalBronze| [[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|1987 Kitchener]] | Pairs}}
}}
}}

'''Kristine Tsuya Yamaguchi''' (born July 12, 1971) is an American former competitive [[figure skater]], [[author]] and [[philanthropist]]. A former competitor in women's singles, Yamaguchi is the [[Figure skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics|1992 Olympic champion]], a two-time [[World Figure Skating Championships|World champion]] (1991 and 1992), and the 1992 [[U.S. Figure Skating Championships|U.S. champion]]. In 1992, she became the first [[Asian Americans|Asian American]] to win a gold medal in a [[Winter Olympic Games|Winter Olympic competition]].<ref name=":0" /> As a pairs skater with [[Rudy Galindo]], she is the 1988 [[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|World Junior champion]] and a two-time national champion (1989 and 1990).

After Yamaguchi retired from competition in 1992, she performed in shows and participated in the professional competition circuit. She won the [[World Professional Figure Skating Championships]] four times in her career (1992, 1994, 1996 and 1997). In 2005, Yamaguchi was inducted into the [[U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame]], and in 2008, she became the celebrity champion in the sixth season of ''[[Dancing with the Stars (American TV series)|Dancing with the Stars]]''.

Yamaguchi is an author and has published five books. ''Dream Big, Little Pig!,'' for which she received the [[Gelett Burgess Children's Book Award]], appeared on [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller list]].

== Early life ==
Yamaguchi was born on July 12, 1971,<ref>{{cite web |title=Kristi Yamaguchi |url=https://www.olympic.org/kristi-yamaguchi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618220606/https://olympics.com/en/athletes/kristi-yamaguchi |archive-date=2021-06-18 |access-date=September 2, 2016 |website=olympic.org |publisher=International Olympic Committee}}</ref> in [[Hayward, California]],<ref name=":7">{{cite web |title=Kristi Yamaguchi |url=https://www.biography.com/athlete/kristi-yamaguchi |website=Biography |publisher=A&E Television Networks, LLC. |access-date=March 14, 2020 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Sports: Breaking Records, Breaking Barriers {{!}} Kristi Yamaguchi {{!}} Smithsonian's National Museum of American History {{!}} |url=https://amhistory.si.edu/sports/exhibit/firsts/yamaguchi/index.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208233422/https://amhistory.si.edu/sports/exhibit/firsts/yamaguchi/index.cfm |archive-date=2017-02-08 |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=amhistory.si.edu}}</ref> to Jim Yamaguchi, a [[dentist]], and Carole (née Doi), a medical secretary. Yamaguchi is [[Sansei]] (a third-generation descendant of [[Japanese diaspora|Japanese emigrants]]).<ref>Nomura, Gail M. (1998). "Japanese American Women," in {{Google books|d9lhBw8t410C|''The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History'' (Mankiller, Barbara Smith, ed.), pp. 288–290.|page=288}}.</ref> Her paternal grandparents and maternal great-grandparents emigrated to the United States from [[Japan]], originating from [[Wakayama Prefecture]] and [[Saga Prefecture]].<ref>{{cite web |editor-first=Richard |editor-last=Demak |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1992/03/23/scorecard/ |title=Scorecard : Sports Illustrated vault |publisher=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=March 23, 1992 |access-date=April 23, 2010 |archive-date=July 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729125721/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1003550/2/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/profiles/kristi-yamaguchi/3/ |title=Kristi Yamaguchi &#124; Faces of America |date=January 4, 2010 |publisher=PBS |access-date=April 23, 2010}}</ref> Yamaguchi's grandparents were sent to an [[Japanese American internment|internment camp]] during [[World War II]], where her mother was born. Her maternal grandfather, George A. Doi, was in the U.S. Army and fought in Germany and France during World War II during the time his family was interned at the [[Heart Mountain Relocation Center|Heart Mountain]] and [[Amache]] camps.<ref>{{cite press release |last=Komai |first=Chris |date=May 1, 2015 |title=Family Members Connect Secretary Mineta, Kristi Yamaguchi To Smithsonian's Congressional Gold Medal Digital Exhibition Broader Military Story |url=http://www.nationalveteransnetwork.com/CGM_Digital_Exhibition_Release_5-1-15_final.pdf |location=Torrance, California |publisher=National Veterans Network |access-date=September 2, 2016 |archive-date=June 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629000055/http://nationalveteransnetwork.com/CGM_Digital_Exhibition_Release_5-1-15_final.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Research done in 2010 by Harvard Professor [[Henry Louis Gates|Henry Louis Gates Jr.]] for the PBS series ''[[Faces of America (PBS series)|Faces of America]]'' showed that Yamaguchi's heritage can be traced back to [[Wakayama Prefecture|Wakayama]] and [[Saga Prefecture|Saga]] prefectures in Japan and that her paternal grandfather, Tatsuichi Yamaguchi, emigrated to Hawaii in 1899.<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/profiles/kristi-yamaguchi/3/ "Faces of America: Kristi Yamaguchi"]. PBS, ''[[Faces of America (PBS series)|Faces of America]]'' series, with Professor [[Henry Louis Gates|Henry Louis Gates, Jr.]], 2010.</ref>

Yamaguchi and her siblings, Brett and Lori, grew up in [[Fremont, California]]. In order to accommodate her training schedule, Yamaguchi was [[home-schooled]] for her first two years of high school, but attended [[Mission San Jose High School]] for her junior and senior years, where she graduated.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Crooks |first1=Peter |title=Kristi & Company: Olympic champ Kristi Yamaguchi juggles celebrity and philanthropy with her favorite role: being a mom |url=http://www.diablomag.com/May-2010/Kristi-amp-Company/ |access-date=September 2, 2016 |work=Diablo Magazine |date=May 2010 |archive-date=September 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911045621/http://www.diablomag.com/May-2010/Kristi-amp-Company/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Competitive skating career ==

=== Early career ===
Yamaguchi was born with bi-lateral [[clubfoot]], resulting in serial leg casting for most of the first year of her life followed by corrective shoes and bracing,<ref>{{cite web |date=July 21, 2019 |title=Kristi Yamaguchi &#124; U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame |url=https://usopm.org/kristi-yamaguchi/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Riss |first=Suzanne |date=2010-02-23 |title='92 Olympian Yamaguchi balances road, family |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/worklife/02/23/working.mother.olympics.yamaguchi/index.html |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=[[CNN]] |language=}}</ref><ref name=":7" /> and began skating as physical therapy when she was 4 or 5 after seeing Peggy Fleming and Dorothy Hamill in the Ice Follies and Ice Capades.<ref name="CNN-2010">{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/worklife/02/23/working.mother.olympics.yamaguchi/|first=Suzanne|last=Riss|title='92 Olympian Yamaguchi balances road, family|publisher=CNN|date=February 23, 2010|access-date=January 28, 2014}}</ref>

From sixth grade on, Yamaguchi practiced from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. before school and sometimes after school. Her mother would drive her to the rink every morning at 4 a.m. and wait for her to finish. She would also accompany Yamaguchi to competitions a couple of times a month.<ref name="CNN-2010" />

=== Pairs career ===
In 1986, Yamaguchi won the junior title at the U.S. championships with [[Rudy Galindo]].<ref name=sports-reference/> Two years later, Yamaguchi won the singles and, with Galindo, the pairs titles at the 1988 [[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|World Junior Championships]];<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Chicago Tribune {{!}} Chicago |date=1996-02-09 |title=A Pair by Any Other Name |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/02/09/a-pair-by-any-other-name/ |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> Galindo had won the 1987 World Junior Championship in singles. In 1989 Yamaguchi and Galindo won the senior pairs title at the [[U.S. Figure Skating Championships|U.S. Championships]]. They won the title again in 1990.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Nineties {{!}} U.S. Figure Skating |url=https://www.usfigureskating.org/nineties |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=www.usfigureskating.org |language=en}}</ref>

As a pairs team, Yamaguchi and Galindo were unusual in that they were both accomplished singles skaters, which allowed them to consistently perform difficult elements like side by side triple [[flip jump]]s, which even twenty years later it would still be considered a very difficult pair element.<ref>Milton, Steve (2009). ''Figure Skating's Greatest Stars''. Firefly Books. {{ISBN|1-55407-324-3}}. p. 110</ref> They also jumped and spun in opposite directions, Yamaguchi counter-clockwise, and Galindo clockwise, which gave them an unusual look on the ice. In 1990, Yamaguchi decided to focus solely on singles. Galindo went on to have a successful singles career as well, winning the 1996 U.S. championships and the 1996 World bronze medal.<ref>{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=1997-10-20 |title=Plus: Figure Skating – U.S. Pro Championships; Petrenko and Yamaguchi Win |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/20/sports/plus-figure-skating-us-pro-championships-petrenko-and-yamaguchi-win.html |access-date=2024-06-28 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

=== Singles career ===
[[File:Stamp of Azerbaijan - 1998 - Colnect 289128 - Figure skating.jpeg|thumb|upright|Yamaguchi on an Azerbaijani postage stamp]]

==== 1989–90 season: Goodwill Games gold ====
Yamaguchi won her first major international gold medal in figure skating at the [[1990 Goodwill Games]].<ref name="nytimes.com">{{Cite news |last=Ap |date=1992-03-30 |title=Figure Skating; Yamaguchi Caps Her Year With World Title |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/30/sports/figure-skating-yamaguchi-caps-her-year-with-world-title.html |access-date=2024-06-28 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==== 1990–91 season: First world title ====
In 1991, Yamaguchi moved to [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]], to train with coach Christy Ness. There, she took psychology courses at the [[University of Alberta]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid={9620C364-EF1C-4A97-A28E-5C97255E10BF}&siteid=mktw |title=Off-ice advice: Kristi Yamaguchi relies financially on family, friends |access-date=January 28, 2009 |date=November 12, 2001 |publisher=[[Market Watch]] }}</ref> The same year, Yamaguchi placed second to [[Tonya Harding]] at the U.S. championships, her third consecutive silver medal at Nationals, with a free skate that included a fall on a triple Salchow but also six clean triple jumps.<ref>Milton, Steve (2009). ''Figure Skating's Greatest Stars''. Firefly Books. {{ISBN|1-55407-324-3}}. p. 110</ref> The following month in [[Munich]], [[Germany]], Yamaguchi won the 1991 [[World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Yamaguchi and Ito: They're Worlds Apart – Except on the Ice |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-02-07-9201120465-story.html |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=Chicago Tribune|date=February 7, 1992 }}</ref><ref name="nytimes.com"/> That year, the American ladies team, consisting of Yamaguchi, Harding and [[Nancy Kerrigan]], became the only national ladies team to have its members sweep the Worlds podium until the [[2021 World Figure Skating Championships]], when [[Anna Shcherbakova]], [[Elizaveta Tuktamysheva]] and [[Alexandra Trusova]] swept the podium representing FSR.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-03-27 |title=Russian troika sweep as US earn third Olympic spot at figure skating worlds |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/mar/26/figure-skating-worlds-ladies-free-skate |access-date=2023-04-12 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

==== 1991–92 season: Olympic gold and second world title ====
In 1992, Yamaguchi won her first U.S. title and gained a spot to the [[1992 Winter Olympics]] in [[Albertville]], [[France]]. Joining her on the U.S. team were again Kerrigan and Harding. While Harding and [[Japan]]'s [[Midori Ito]] were consistently landing the difficult [[triple Axel]] jump in competition, Yamaguchi instead focused on her artistry and her triple-triple combinations in hopes of becoming a more well-rounded skater.<ref name="CT920830" /><ref name=":2" /> Both Harding and Ito fell on their triple Axels at the Olympics (though Ito successfully landed the jump later on in her long program after missing the first time), allowing Yamaguchi to win the gold, despite errors in her free program, including putting a hand to the ice on a [[loop jump|triple loop]] and a [[salchow jump|double salchow]] instead of a planned triple. She later explained her mindset during the long program: "You just do your best and forget the rest." Yamaguchi went on to successfully defend her World title that same year.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}

== Professional skating career ==
Yamaguchi planned to start the 1992-93 competitive season at [[Prague Skate]] in [[Czechoslovakia]] in November but [[U.S. Figure Skating|U.S Figure Skating]] insisted that all its skaters compete at [[Skate America]], which was due to take place a month earlier in October. Skate America became a source of contention between the federation and Yamaguchi, who was unable to be ready in time due to a busy schedule with commercial appearances and speaking engagements following her wins at the 1992 Winter Olympics and 1992 World Championships. As a result, Yamaguchi decided to turn professional after the 1991–92 competitive season<ref name=CT920830/> and immediately started competing on the pro competition circuit, starting with the [[World Professional Figure Skating Championships]] in December 1992 where she captured her first world pro gold.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Kristi Yamaguchi won gold 30 years ago. American figure skating would never look the same. |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2022/02/14/kristi-yamaguchi-asian-american-figure-skaters/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403213518/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2022/02/14/kristi-yamaguchi-asian-american-figure-skaters/ |archive-date=2022-04-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=World Professional Figure Skating Championships – Landover, MD |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/pro-am-figure-skating-results/world-professional-figure-skating-championships-landover-md/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013165102/https://www.goldenskate.com/pro-am-figure-skating-results/world-professional-figure-skating-championships-landover-md/ |archive-date=2022-10-13 |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=Golden Skate |language=en-US}}</ref> By the time she stopped competing as a professional, she had become a four-time professional world champion (1992, 1994, 1996 and 1997).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Sports: Breaking Records, Breaking Barriers {{!}} Kristi Yamaguchi {{!}} Smithsonian's National Museum of American History {{!}} |url=https://amhistory.si.edu/sports/exhibit/firsts/yamaguchi/index.cfm |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=amhistory.si.edu}}</ref> She finished second in 1993 behind [[Midori Ito]] and in 1995 behind [[Yuka Sato]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Professional Figure Skating Championships – Landover, MD |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/pro-am-figure-skating-results/world-professional-figure-skating-championships-landover-md/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=Golden Skate |language=en-US}}</ref>

She toured extensively with [[Stars on Ice|Stars On Ice]] for over a decade.<ref name=":3" /> Originally, Stars On Ice was a 30-city tour, but when Yamaguchi joined, it quickly became a 60-city tour due to her ability to captivate an audience.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Ritoper |first=Stefanie |date=2022-07-15 |title=Kristi Yamaguchi Is Remembered as the Perfect Olympics Hero. It Wasn't Always That Way. |language=en-US |work=Slate |url=https://slate.com/culture/2022/07/kristi-yamaguchi-asian-celebrity-racism-representation-legacy.html |access-date=2023-04-12 |issn=1091-2339}}</ref> She collaborated with a variety of choreographers to create diverse programs. "A lot of us on the Stars on Ice tour took pride in trying to stay innovative and bring something new to the ice every year," Yamaguchi noted.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2011-12-31 |title=Kristi Yamaguchi Feature on Asian Fusion Girl |url=http://asian-fusion.com/237/kristi-yamaguchi/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617125923/http://asian-fusion.com/237/kristi-yamaguchi/ |archive-date=2016-06-17 |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Asian Fusion |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Public life and popular culture ==

=== Sponsorships, endorsements and partnerships ===
In the ensuing months and years after she stood atop the podium in Albertville in 1992, Yamaguchi showed up on cereal boxes like [[Kellogg's]] [[Special K]], on [[Hallmark Cards|Hallmark]] Christmas ornaments, in ads for [[Got Milk?]] and [[Hoechst Celanese]], as well as commercials for brands, fast food chains and department store chains like [[Mervyn's]], [[Wendy's]], [[Novartis|DuraSoft]] and [[Entenmann's]] doughnuts.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=1993-01-31 |title=Gold on Ice Olympic Star Kristi Yamaguchi Learning New Moves for Pro Role  |url=https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1993-01-31-2905000-story.html |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=The Morning Call |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Olympic Dream\ Wrestled From the Clutches of a Marketing Nightmare, Silver Turns to Gold  |url=https://greensboro.com/olympic-dream-wrested-frm-the-clutches-of-a-marketing-nightmare-silver-turns-to-gold/article_2c5cb121-a1e9-5abe-8731-437ff1424358.html |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=Greensboro News and Record |date=May 25, 1994 |language=en}}</ref> She was also featured in ads for [[Campbell Soup Company|Campbell Soup]], a sponsor of U.S. Figure Skating at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Olympic Skating Medalist Has Yet to Land Big Endorsement Contracts |url=https://apnews.com/article/b76f9978a3d8fcafbbed52c5cfeaf4d0 |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref> In 2010, Yamaguchi was engaged by [[Procter & Gamble|P&G]] to help kick off its "Thanks Mom" program in connection with the [[2010 Winter Olympics]] in [[Vancouver]].<ref>{{Cite web |title='Thanks Mom' Campaign Featured at US Family Home in Vancouver |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/thanks-mom-campaign-featured-at-us-family-home-in-vancouver-84858102/168669.html |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=VOA |date=February 19, 2010 |language=en}}</ref> She also collaborated with [[OPI Products|OPI]] and [[General Electric]] in 2011<ref name=":5" /> and appeared in a TV spot for department store retail chain [[Kohl's]] in 2012.<ref>{{Citation |title=Kohl's TV Commercial For Kohl's Featuring Kristi Yamaguchi |url=https://www.ispot.tv/ad/7Vs6/kohls-kohls-featuring-kristi-yamaguchi |access-date=2023-04-13 |language=en}}</ref> In 2018, Yamaguchi worked with the Milk Life Campaign that aims to explain the significance of milk in a well-balanced, nutritious diet. As part of the campaign, Yamaguchi recreated her "Got Milk?" ad from the 1990s and was photographed by [[Annie Leibovitz|Annie Leibowitz]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Snapshot New York: Looking back at more than 4 decades of the iconic "I Love NY" ad campaign |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/snapshot-new-york-looking-back-at-more-than-4-decades-of-the-iconic-i-love-new-york-ad-campaign/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=www.cbsnews.com |date=February 13, 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[Mattel]] unveiled a new [[Barbie]] doll based on Yamaguchi in April 2024. The Yamaguchi Barbie doll is dressed in a detailed replication of Yamaguchi's gold and black costume from the [[1992 Winter Olympics]] in Albertville.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tang |first=Terry |date=2024-04-24 |title=Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi is 'tickled pink' to inspire a Barbie doll |url=https://apnews.com/article/barbie-kristi-yamaguchi-asian-american-05138c29e0996592f5e5a052980b8c9a |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424041141/https://apnews.com/article/barbie-kristi-yamaguchi-asian-american-05138c29e0996592f5e5a052980b8c9a |archive-date=2024-04-24 |access-date=2024-04-24 |website=[[Associated Press|AP]] |language=en |agency=}}</ref> Yamaguchi has been represented by [[IMG (company)|IMG]] since 1992.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mulligan |first=Thomas S. |date=1992-03-17 |title=Yamaguchi's Endorsement Deals Prove Good as Gold : Marketing: The Olympic skater's business managers find no evidence that her Japanese heritage makes advertisers balk. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-17-fi-4044-story.html |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Television ===
Yamaguchi made a public service video with [[the California Raisins]] in 1993 called "Hip to be Fit: Starring Kristi Yamaguchi and The California Raisins." She has appeared as herself on shows like ''[[Everybody Loves Raymond]], [[Fresh Off the Boat]],''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reports |first=Rafu |date=2019-11-09 |title='Fresh' Farewell: ABC's Groundbreaking Comedy 'Fresh Off the Boat' to End |url=http://rafu.com/2019/11/fresh-farewell-abcs-groundbreaking-comedy-fresh-off-the-boat-to-end/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=Rafu Shimpo |language=en-US}}</ref> ''[[Hell's Kitchen (American TV series)|Hell's Kitchen]] and Freedom: A History of US'' as well as in films like ''[[D2: The Mighty Ducks]]'', ''Frosted Pink'', and the [[Disney Channel]] original movie ''[[Go Figure (film)|Go Figure]]''.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}} In 2006, Yamaguchi was the host of [[WE tv]] series ''[[Skating's Next Star]]'', created and produced by Major League Figure Skating. Yamaguchi was a local commentator on figure skating for [[San Jose, California|San Jose]] [[TV station]] [[KNTV]] (NBC 11) during the [[2006 Winter Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Jan. 25, 2006: Bay Area Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi Joins NBC11's Olympic Broadcast Team |url=http://www.nbc11.com/press/6445119/detail.html |access-date=April 23, 2010 |publisher=Nbc11.com}}</ref> In 2010, Yamaguchi worked as a daily [[Olympics on NBC|NBC Olympics]] skating broadcast analyst on NBC's [[Universal Sports Network]]. During the 2010 Winter Olympics, Yamaguchi was also a special correspondent for the [[Today (American TV program)|''Today Show'']].<ref name="Interview with Kristi">Interview with Kristi</ref>

She performed in numerous television skating specials, including the Disney special ''Aladdin on Ice'', in which she played [[Princess Jasmine]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney's Aladdin on Ice |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/464883/disneys-aladdin-on-ice |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=Turner Classic Movies |language=en}}</ref> and in 2016 she hosted the "Colgate Skating Series" on ABC, a show featuring skaters such as Nancy Kerrigan, Paul Wylie, and Todd Eldridge, who performed with their families.<ref>{{Cite web |title=24 years after Olympic gold, Kristi Yamaguchi focuses on families and service |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/24-years-after-olympic-gold-kristi-yamaguchi-focuses-families-service-n687826 |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=NBC News |date=November 25, 2016 |language=en}}</ref> In 2023, Yamaguchi made an appearance in [[Carolyn Taylor]]'s documentary comedy series ''[[I Have Nothing (TV series)|I Have Nothing]]'' that follows Taylor's comical quest to choreograph a pairs skating routine set to [[Whitney Houston]]'s 1993 hit song "[[I Have Nothing]]."<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Dowling |first=Amber |date=2023-09-22 |title=How Carolyn Taylor's Teen Dreams of Olympic Skating — and Katarina Witt — Resulted in New Crave Comedy 'I Have Nothing' |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/global/carolyn-taylor-ice-skating-crave-docuseries-i-have-nothing-1235730507/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922153821/https://variety.com/2023/tv/global/carolyn-taylor-ice-skating-crave-docuseries-i-have-nothing-1235730507/ |archive-date=2023-09-22 |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

On May 20, 2008, Yamaguchi became the champion of the [[Dancing with the Stars (American TV series) season 6|sixth season]] of [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[Dancing with the Stars (American TV series)|Dancing with the Stars]],<ref>{{cite news |date=May 21, 2008 |title=Kristi Yamaguchi Wins Dancing with the Stars |publisher=Pacific Coast News |url=http://pacificcoastnewsonline.com/2008/05/surprise-kristi-yamaguchi-won.html}}</ref>'' where she was paired with [[Mark Ballas]]. Yamaguchi became the first female winner since [[Kelly Monaco]] in [[Dancing with the Stars (American TV series) season 1|season 1]]. Yamaguchi made a special appearance in the finale of the [[Dancing with the Stars (American TV series) season 16|16th season]] where she danced alongside [[Dorothy Hamill]], and in November 2017, she returned to the [[Dancing with the Stars (American TV series) season 25|25th season]] in week eight<ref>{{cite web |last=Montgomery |first=Daniel |date=November 2, 2017 |title='Dancing with the Stars' trio dances will invite back Kelly Monaco, Alfonso Ribeiro, Laurie Hernandez, Corbin Bleu |url=http://www.goldderby.com/article/2017/dancing-with-the-stars-trio-dances-kelly-monaco-alfonso-ribeiro-news-957136248/ |access-date=November 2, 2017 |publisher=goldderby.com}}</ref> to participate in a [[Jazz dance|jazz]] trio with [[Lindsey Stirling]] and [[Mark Ballas]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Brozyna |first=Emily |date=November 2, 2017 |title='Dancing with the Stars' trio dances will invite back Kelly Monaco, Alfonso Ribeiro, Laurie Hernandez, Corbin Bleu |url=http://www.j-14.com/posts/jordan-fisher-corbin-bleu-dancing-with-the-stars-145834 |access-date=November 2, 2017 |publisher=J-14.com}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable unsortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Kristi Yamaguchi – ''Dancing with the Stars'' (season 6)
! scope="col" | Week
! scope="col" | Dance
! scope="col" | Music
! scope="col" colspan="3" | Judges' scores{{efn|Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: [[Carrie Ann Inaba]], [[Len Goodman]], [[Bruno Tonioli]].}}
! Total score
! scope="col" | Result
|-
! scope="row" | 1
| [[Foxtrot]]
| "[[The More I See You]]" — [[Michael Bublé]]
| 9
| 9
| 9
| 27
| Safe
|-
! scope="row" | 2
| [[Mambo (dance)|Mambo]]
| "[[Hey Baby (No Doubt song)|Hey Baby]]" — [[No Doubt]], featuring [[Bounty Killer]]
| 9
| 9
| 9
| 27
| Safe
|-
! scope="row" | 3
| [[Tango (ballroom)|Tango]]
| "[[Rio (song)|Rio]]" — [[Duran Duran]]
| 9
| 9
| 9
| 27
| Safe
|-
! scope="row" | 4
| [[Pasodoble|Paso doble]]
| "[[Blue Monday (New Order song)|Blue Monday]]" — [[New Order (band)|New Order]]
| 10
| 9
| 10
| 29
| Safe
|-
! scope="row" | 5
| [[Rumba (dance)|Rumba]]
| "[[Say (John Mayer song)|Say]]" — [[John Mayer]]
| 9
| 10
| 10
| 29
| Safe
|-
! rowspan="2" scope="row" | 6
| [[Jive (dance)|Jive]]
| "[[Rip It Up (Little Richard song)|Rip it Up]]" — [[Little Richard]]
| 10
| 10
| 10
| 30
| rowspan="2" | Safe
|-
| Group [[Country-western two-step|Two-step]]
| "[[Cotton-Eyed Joe]]" — The Nashville Riders
| colspan="4" bgcolor="lightgray" | ''No scores received''
|-
! rowspan="2" scope="row" | 7
| [[Viennese waltz]]
| "[[I'm with You (Avril Lavigne song)|I'm with You]]" — [[Avril Lavigne]]
| 9
| 8
| 9
| 26
| rowspan="2" | Safe
|-
| [[Cha-cha-cha (dance)|Cha-cha-cha]]
| "[[Don't Stop the Music (Rihanna song)|Don't Stop the Music]]" — [[Rihanna]]
| 10
| 8
| 10
| 28
|-
! rowspan="2" scope="row" | 8
| [[Quickstep]]
| "Billy a Dick" — Klaus Hallen
| 9
| 10
| 10
| 29
| rowspan="2" | Safe
|-
| [[Samba (Brazilian dance)|Samba]]
| "[[Volare (song)|Volare]]" — [[Gipsy Kings]]
| 8
| 9
| 9
| 26
|-
! rowspan="2" scope="row" | 9
| [[Tango]]
| "Midnight Tango" — Arthur Murray Orchestra
| 10
| 9
| 10
| 29
| rowspan="2" | Safe
|-
| [[Jive (dance)|Jive]]
| "[[Nutbush City Limits]]" — [[Tina Turner]]
| 9
| 9
| 10
| 28
|-
! rowspan="2" scope="row" | 10<br>{{nowrap|{{small|(Night 1)}}}}
| [[Cha-cha-cha (dance)|Cha-cha-cha]]
| "[[Dancing on the Ceiling (Lionel Richie song)|Dancing on the Ceiling]]" — [[Lionel Richie]]
| 10
| 10
| 10
| 30
| rowspan="2" |  Safe
|-
| [[Street dance|Freestyle]]
| "Workin' Day and Night" — [[Michael Jackson]]
| 10
| 10
| 10
| 30
|-
! 10<br>{{nowrap|{{small|(Night 2)}}}}
| [[Jive (dance)|Jive]]
| "Rip it Up" — [[Little Richard]]
| 10
| 10
| 10
| 30
| bgcolor="gold" | '''Winner'''
|}
{{notelist}}

=== Books and magazines ===
Yamaguchi authored five books. She released [[For Dummies|''Figure Skating for Dummies'']] in 1997 followed by ''Always Dream'', ''Pure Gold'' in 1998. In 2011, she published her award-winning children's book, ''Dream Big, Little Pig'',<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=See Figure Skater Kristi Yamaguchi Now, 30 Years After Winning Olympic Gold |url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/see-figure-skater-kristi-yamaguchi-143950646.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210152316/https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/see-figure-skater-kristi-yamaguchi-143950646.html |archive-date=2022-02-10 |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=Yahoo Life |date=February 10, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Yamaguchi |first=Kristi |title=Dream Big, Little Pig |publisher=Sourcebooks Jabberwocky |others=Illustrated by Tim Bowers |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-4022-5275-4 |oclc=662405424}}</ref> which was No. 2 on the ''New York Times'' bestseller list and received the [[Gelett Burgess Children's Book Award]]. A portion of the proceeds went to the Always Dream Foundation to support early childhood literacy programs.<ref name="dblp">{{cite news |last=Wengen |first=Deidre |date=March 29, 2011 |title=Figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi turns best-selling children's author |work=phillyburbs.com |url=http://www.phillyburbs.com/blogs/book_checked/figure-skater-kristi-yamaguchi-turns-best-selling-children-s-author/article_283149c6-5a0a-11e0-8944-0017a4a78c22.html |url-status=dead |access-date=March 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110401025746/http://www.phillyburbs.com/blogs/book_checked/figure-skater-kristi-yamaguchi-turns-best-selling-children-s-author/article_283149c6-5a0a-11e0-8944-0017a4a78c22.html |archive-date=April 1, 2011}}</ref> A sequel, ''It's a Big World Little Pig'',<ref>{{cite book |last=Yamaguchi |first=Kristi |title=It's a Big World, Little Pig |publisher=Sourcebooks Jabberwocky |others=Illustrated by Tim Bowers |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-4022-6644-7 |oclc=747529286}}</ref> was published March 6, 2012.<ref name=":1" /> ''Cara's Kindness'', which was illustrated by [[Pixar]] artist John Lee,<ref name=":1" /> was released in 2016.

Throughout the years, Yamaguchi has graced the covers of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'', [[People (magazine)|''People'']], and other magazines.<ref name=":4" />

=== Fashion ===
[[File:Kristi Yamaguchi at The Heart Truth 2009 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Yamaguchi at The Heart Truth fashion show in 2009]]
In early 2012, Yamaguchi created a woman's active wear line focused on function, comfort, and style to empower women to look good and feel good. The lifestyle brand is called Tsu.ya by Kristi Yamaguchi. "[Tsu.ya] is actually my middle name, and it was my grand-mother's name [and] a nod to my Japanese heritage. We put the period in there because we thought it would break it up and make it easier to pronounce," remarked Yamaguchi. Tsu.ya donates a portion of its proceeds to support early childhood literacy through Yamaguchi's Always Dream Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Olympic skater Kristi Yamaguchi launches fashion line |url=https://www.today.com/news/olympic-skater-kristi-yamaguchi-launches-fashion-line-wbna49012558 |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=Today.com |date=September 13, 2012 |language=en}}</ref>

In February 2009, Kristi walked the runway with nineteen other celebrity women at the Heart Truth fashion show that took place during New York Fashion Week to raise awareness about heart disease.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Critchell |date=2009-02-13 |title=Fashion Week kicks off with celeb-studded runway |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-fashion-week-heart-truth-021309-2009feb13-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130084334/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-fashion-week-heart-truth-021309-2009feb13-story.html |archive-date=2020-11-30 |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> The Heart Truth, a national health education program, created and introduced the Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness in 2002, and a selection of the red designer dresses seen on the runway were later auctioned off.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hainey |first=Ehmonie |date=2009-02-14 |title=The Heart Truth Red Dress Collection at New York Fashion Week |url=http://whatshaute.com/index.php/2009/02/the-heart-truth-red-dress-collection-at-new-york-fashion-week/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021105305/http://whatshaute.com/index.php/2009/02/the-heart-truth-red-dress-collection-at-new-york-fashion-week/ |archive-date=2020-10-21 |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=What's Haute |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Philanthropy and supported causes ===
In 1996, Yamaguchi established the Always Dream Foundation for children. The goal of the foundation is to provide funding for after school programs, computers, back-to-school clothes for underprivileged children, and summer camps for kids with disabilities. Commenting in 2009, she explained her inspiration for the project: "I was inspired by the [[Make-A-Wish Foundation]] to make a positive difference in children's lives. We've been helping out various children's organizations, which is rewarding. Our latest project is a playground designed so that kids of all abilities can play side by side. That's our focus now."<ref>{{cite web |title=''Ability Magazine: Kristi Yamaguchi Interview"'' (2009) |url=http://abilitymagazine.com/Kristi_yamaguchi.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201071753/http://www.abilitymagazine.com/Kristi_yamaguchi.html |archive-date=2012-02-01 |access-date=}}</ref> In 2011, Yamaguchi worked with the [[American Lung Association]], promoting their "Faces of Influenza" campaign.<ref name=":5" />

Also in 2011, Kristi and the Always Dream Foundation Board decided to narrow the foundation's focus to early childhood literacy. This change was inspired by Kristi's role as a mother of two young daughters, as well as her new venture as a children's book author. In 2012, the foundation forged a partnership with Raising A Reader and the digital children's library myON, to create the Always Reading program, which integrated traditional books with e-books and 21st century technology in both the classroom and home environment. Between 2012 and 2018, the Always Reading program served more than 10,000 students and families at 24 Title 1 schools in California, Hawaiʻi, and Arizona.

In 2018, after two years of assessment and evaluation, the Always Dream Foundation worked with an expert team of education advisors to redesign the Always Reading program with the goal of targeting the home environment and supporting family engagement in reading. The Always Reading pilot program was implemented in two classrooms in Oakland, CA.

In 2020, Always Dream dropped the name "Foundation" to reflect their work as a direct service nonprofit and officially became "[https://alwaysdream.org Kristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream]." During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the non-profit supplied tablets stocked with digital books, as well as internet access through a mobile data plan, to students in need.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kristi Yamaguchi improves literacy for Pacific Islander, Latino kids amid pandemic |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/how-kristi-yamaguchi-improving-literacy-pacific-islander-latino-kids-amid-n1244597 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101013918/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/how-kristi-yamaguchi-improving-literacy-pacific-islander-latino-kids-amid-n1244597 |archive-date=2020-11-01 |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=NBC News |date=October 24, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Yamaguchi was selected as one of the 2023 ''[[CNN Heroes]]'' for her work with the Always Dream Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reports |first=Rafu |date=2023-12-07 |title=Kristi Yamaguchi Featured in 'CNN Heroes: Sharing the Spotlight' |url=http://rafu.com/2023/12/kristi-yamaguchi-featured-in-cnn-heroes-sharing-the-spotlight/ |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=Rafu Shimpo |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Accolades and impact ==
Figure skating had long been the domain of white Americans and Europeans. Yamaguchi finished ahead of two Japanese skaters at a competition in 1988 but the medal ceremony was delayed while organizers tried to track down a Japanese flag for Yamaguchi, unaware that she was American.<ref name="CT920830" /> Yamaguchi was the first Asian American to win gold at a [[Winter Olympic Games]],<ref name=":4" /> paving the way for Asian American skaters that came after her like two-time Olympic medalist [[Michelle Kwan]], 2022 Olympic champion and Team gold medalist [[Nathan Chen]], Olympic Team gold medalist [[Karen Chen]], and 2025 World champion [[Alysa Liu]].<ref name="CT920830" /> Five of the sixteen athletes on the U.S. team at the [[2022 Winter Olympics]] in [[Beijing]] were of Asian descent. Four years earlier at the [[2018 Winter Olympics|2018 Games]] in [[Pyeongchang County|PyeongChang]], there were seven with ice dance siblings [[Maia Shibutani]] and [[Alex Shibutani]].<ref name="CT920830" />

Yamaguchi has received numerous awards in recognition of her achievements and impact. She was the recipient of the Inspiration Award at the 2008 [[Asian Excellence Awards]]. Two days after her Dancing with the Stars champion crowning, she received the 2008 Sonja Henie Award from the [[Professional Skaters Association]]. Among her other awards are the Thurman Munson Award, [[Women's Sports Foundation]] [[Flo Hyman Award]], the Heisman Humanitarian Award,<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 29, 2019 |title=Gold Medal Figure Skater Kristi Yamaguchi Selected as 2019 Heisman Humanitarian |url=https://www.rafu.com/2019/10/gold-medal-figure-skater-kristi-yamaguchi-selected-as-2019-heisman-humanitarian/ |access-date=January 16, 2020 |website=www.rafu.com}}</ref> the Great Sports Legends Award as well as the Jesse Owens Olympic Spirit Award.<ref>{{Cite web |title=USOC Announces Kristi Yamaguchi as Jesse Owens Olympic Spirit Award Winner |url=https://www.teamusa.org/News/2018/April/19/USOC-Announces-Kristi-Yamaguchi-As-Jesse-Owens-Olympic-Spirit-Award-Winner |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419213906/https://www.teamusa.org/News/2018/April/19/USOC-Announces-Kristi-Yamaguchi-As-Jesse-Owens-Olympic-Spirit-Award-Winner |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 19, 2018 |website=teamusa.org}}</ref> She is also a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee Olympic Hall of Fame, [[World Figure Skating Hall of Fame|World Skating Hall of Fame]], and the [[US Figure Skating Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Michoces |first=Gary |date=December 8, 2008 |title=Yamaguchi tops Olympic Hall class |work=USA Today |via=Gale Academic OneFile}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lieser |first=Ethan |date=January 20, 2002 |title=Golden Girl: Ten years after winning the Medal, Kristi Yamaguchi is still celebrating |page=18 |work=Asianweek |id={{ProQuest| <!-- Insert ProQuest data here -->}}}}</ref>

== Politics ==

Yamaguchi identifies as a [[Conservatism|conservative]] [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]; yet, she stated in 2009 that she appreciated then-president [[Barack Obama]] as a "decision-maker", nonetheless criticizing in the same interview the state of the economy under his leadership.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Famous conservatives in professional sports  |url=https://m.washingtontimes.com/multimedia/collection/famous-conservative-athletes-1/?page=9 |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=Washington Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 26, 2009 |title=What I Like... With Gold Medalist & Dancer Kristi Yamaguchi |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2009/03/26/Sports-Industrialists/What-I-Like-With-Gold-Medalist-Dancer-Kristi-Yamaguchi.aspx |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=www.sportsbusinessjournal.com |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2024, Yamaguchi attended the state dinner for Japan hosted by Democratic president [[Joe Biden]]. Yamaguchi backed Biden during the 2020 presidential election.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kurtz |first=Judy |date=2024-04-11 |title=White House state dinner for Japan serves up stars, springtime decor and little political talk |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/4587191-white-house-state-dinner-for-japan-serves-up-stars-springtime-decor-and-little-political-talk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411020707/https://thehill.com/homenews/4587191-white-house-state-dinner-for-japan-serves-up-stars-springtime-decor-and-little-political-talk/ |archive-date=2024-04-11 |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Programs ==

=== Singles ===
{{smalldiv|
* Program details mentioned at first occurrence
* [[Winter Olympic Games|Olympic]] seasons highlighted in blue
* Programs performed at the [[Figure skating at the Winter Olympics|Winter Olympics]] highlighted in '''bold'''
}}
{{Figure skating program list
|exhibition=yes
|season1=1987–88
|ref1=
  |SP1={{FS program|''[[Malagueña (song)|Malagueña]]''|composer=[[Ernesto Lecuona]]}}
  |FS1={{FS program|''[[Madam Butterfly]]''|composer=[[Giacomo Puccini]]}}
|season2=1988–89
|ref2=
  |SP2={{FS program|''[[A Chorus Line]]''|composer=[[Marvin Hamlisch]]}}
  |FS2={{FS program|''Jacques Offenbach Medley''|music1=[[La Vie parisienne (operetta)]]||music2=[[The Tales of Hoffmann]]||music3=[[Orpheus in the Underworld]]|composer=[[Jacques Offenbach]]}}
  |EX2={{FS program|''[[One Moment in Time]]''|composer=[[Albert Hammond]]|performer=[[Whitney Houston]]}}
|season3=1989–90
|ref3=
  |SP3={{FS program|''[[A Chorus Line]]''}}
  |FS3={{FS program|''[[Swan Lake]]''|composer=[[Pyotr Tchaikovsky]]}}
|season4=1990–91
|EXnum4=2
|ref4=
  |SP4={{FS program|''[[La Bamba (film)]]''|composer=[[Miles Goodman]]}}
  |FS4={{FS program|''[[Samson and Delilah (opera)]]''|composer=[[Camille Saint-Saëns]]}}
  |EX4={{FS program|''[[O mio babbino caro]]''|composer=[[Giacomo Puccini]]|performer=[[Kiri Te Kanawa]]}}
  |EX4_2={{FS program|''[[The Yankee Doodle Boy]]''|performer=[[George M. Cohan]]}}
|season5=1991–92
|EXnum5=2
|olympic5=yes
|ref5=
  |SP5={{FS program|'''''[[The Blue Danube]]'''''|composer=[[Johann Strauss II]]|choreographer=[[Sandra Bezic]]}}
  |FS5={{FS program|'''''[[Malagueña (song)|Malagueña]]'''''|choreographer=[[Sandra Bezic]]}}
  |EX5={{FS program|'''''[[Milord (song)|Milord]]'''''|performer=[[Édith Piaf]]}}
  |EX5_2={{FS program|'''''[[The Yankee Doodle Boy]]'''''}}
}}

{{Figure skating program list 2
|year1=1992<ref name="GSWorldPro">{{Cite web |date=2023-03-17 |title=World Professional Figure Skating Championships – Landover, MD |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/pro-am-figure-skating-results/world-professional-figure-skating-championships-landover-md/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128102319/https://www.goldenskate.com/pro-am-figure-skating-results/world-professional-figure-skating-championships-landover-md/ |archive-date=2023-01-28 |website=goldenskate.com}}</ref>|span1=2
|P1={{FS program|''[[Fantaisie-Impromptu]]''|composer=[[Frédéric Chopin]]}}|E1=[[World Professional Figure Skating Championships|1992 World Pro]]|Enum1=2
|P1_2={{FS program|"[[My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)]]"|performer=[[En Vogue]]}}|
|year2=1993<ref name="GSWorldPro"/>|span2=2
|P2={{FS program|"[[Being Alive]]"|composer=[[George Furth]]}}|E2=[[World Professional Figure Skating Championships|1993 World Pro]]|Enum2=2
|P2_2={{FS program|''[[Romeo and Juliet (1968 film)|Romeo and Juliet]]''|composer=[[Nino Rota]]}}
|year3=1994<ref name="GSWorldPro"/><ref name="GSIceWars">{{Cite web |date=2023-04-16 |title=Ice Wars – World Ice Figure Skating Challenge |url=https://www.goldenskate.com/pro-am-figure-skating-results/ice-wars-world-ice-figure-skating-challenge/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130010906/https://www.goldenskate.com/pro-am-figure-skating-results/ice-wars-world-ice-figure-skating-challenge/ |archive-date=2023-01-30 |website=goldenskate.com}}</ref>|span3=4
|P3={{FS program|''[[Reflections of Passion]]''|composer=[[Yanni]]}}|E3=[[World Professional Figure Skating Championships|1994 World Pro]]|Enum3=2
|P3_2={{FS program|"[[100% Pure Love]]"|performer=[[Crystal Waters]]}}
|P3_3={{FS program|"[[Doop (song)|Doop]]"|performer=[[Doop (band)|Doop]]}}|E3_3=[[Ice Wars|Ice Wars I]]|Enum3_3=2
|P3_4={{FS program|''Reflections of Passion''}}
|year4=1995<ref name="GSWorldPro"/><ref name="GSIceWars"/>|span4=4
|P4={{FS program|''[[The Seasons (ballet)|The Seasons]]''|composer=[[Alexander Glazunov]]}}|E4=[[World Professional Figure Skating Championships|1995 World Pro]]|Enum4=2
|P4_2={{FS program|"[[It's Oh So Quiet]]"|performer=[[Björk]]}}
|P4_3={{FS program|"[[Linus and Lucy]]"|composer=[[Vince Guaraldi]]}}|E4_3=[[Ice Wars|Ice Wars II]]|Enum4_3=2
|P4_4={{FS program|"[[I'm Gonna Be Strong]]"|composer=[[Barry Mann]], [[Cynthia Weil]]|performer=[[Cyndi Lauper]]}}
|year5=1996<ref name="GSWorldPro"/>|span5=2
|P5={{FS program|''[[La cumparsita]]''|composer=[[Gerardo Matos Rodríguez]]}}|E5=[[World Professional Figure Skating Championships|1996 World Pro]]|Enum5=2
|P5_2={{FS program|''[[O mio babbino caro]]''|composer=[[Giacomo Puccini]]}}
|year6=1997<ref name="GSWorldPro"/>|span6=2
|P6={{FS program|Louis Armstrong Medley|performer=[[Louis Armstrong]]}}|E6=[[World Professional Figure Skating Championships|1997 World Pro]]|Enum6=2
|P6_2={{FS program|"[[T-R-O-U-B-L-E (song)|Trouble]]"|performer=[[Elvis Presley]]}}
|year7=1999<ref name="GSIceWars"/>|span7=2
|P7={{FS program|"[[Smooth (Santana song)|Smooth]]"|performer=[[Santana (band)|Santana]]}}|E7=[[Ice Wars|Ice Wars VI]]|Enum7=2
|P7_2={{FS program|"[[From This Moment On (Shania Twain song)|From This Moment On]]"|performer=[[Shania Twain]]}}
|year8=2000<ref name="GSIceWars"/>|span8=2
|P8={{FS program|"[[Desert Rose (Sting song)|Desert Rose]]"|performer=[[Sting (musician)|Sting]]}}|E8=[[Ice Wars|Ice Wars VII]]|Enum8=2
|P8_2={{FS program|"[[(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction]]"|performer=[[The Rolling Stones]]}}
|year9=2001<ref name="GSIceWars"/>|span9=2
|P9={{FS program|"Dance With Me Slow"}}|E9=[[Ice Wars|World Ice Challenge]]|Enum9=2
|P9_2={{FS program|"Just a Try"|performer=[[Janet Jackson]]}}
}}

=== Pairs ===
(With [[Rudy Galindo]])
{{smalldiv|
* Program details mentioned at first occurrence
}}
{{Figure skating program list
|season1=1986–87
|ref1=
  |SP1={{FS program|''Another Cha-Cha''|composer=Jimmy Goings, [[Nicolas Skorsky]]|performer=[[Santa Esmeralda]]}}
  |FS1={{FS program|Medley|music1=''The Tap Dance Kid''|composer1=[[Henry Krieger]]|music2=[[42nd Street (musical)|42nd Street]]|composer2=[[Henry Krieger]]}}
|season2=1987–88
|ref2=
  |SP2=
  |FS2={{FS program|Medley|music1=''The Tap Dance Kid''|music2=[[42nd Street (musical)|42nd Street]]}}
|season3=1988–89
|ref3=
  |SP3={{FS program|''[[They're Playing Our Song]]''|composer=[[Marvin Hamlisch]]}}
  |FS3={{FS program|''[[Romeo and Juliet (1968 film)|Romeo and Juliet]]''|composer=[[Nino Rota]], [[Pyotr Tchaikovsky]]}}
|season4=1989–90
  |SP4={{FS program|''[[The Firebird]]''|composer=[[Igor Stravinsky]]}}
  |FS4={{FS program|''[[Coppélia]]''|composer=[[Léo Delibes]]}}
|ref4=
}}

== Competitive highlights ==
[[File:Kristi Yamaguchi’s Figure Skates, 1990’s.jpg|thumb|Yamaguchi's figure skates at the Museum of American History]]

=== Singles career ===
{{smalldiv|
* GP – Event of the [[ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating|ISU Grand Prix Series]]
}}
{{Figure skating competitive highlights
|level=junior and senior|
|season1=1986–87|season2=1987–88|season3=1988–89|season4=1989–90|season5=1990–91|season6=1991–92
|{{FS placements|6|[[Figure skating at the Olympic Games|Winter Olympics]]|p6=1st}}
|{{FS placements|6|[[World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]]|p3=6th|p4=4th|p5=1st|p6=1st}}
|{{FS placements|6|{{small|GP}} [[Grand Prix de France (figure skating)|International de Paris]]|p6=2nd}}
|{{FS placements|6|{{small|GP}} [[Bofrost Cup on Ice|Nations Cup]]|p5=1st}}
|{{FS placements|6|{{small|GP}} [[NHK Trophy]]|p3=2nd|p4=2nd}}
|{{FS placements|6|{{small|GP}} [[Skate America]]|p3=3rd|p5=1st|p6=2nd}}
|{{FS placements|6|{{small|GP}} [[Skate Canada]]|p4=1st}}
|{{FS placements|6|[[Figure skating at the Goodwill Games|Goodwill Games]]|p5=1st}}
|{{FS placements|6|U.S. Olympic Festival|p4=1st}}
|{{FS placements|6|[[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|World Junior Championships]]|p2=1st|lv2=J}}
|{{FS placements|6|[[U.S. Figure Skating Championships|U.S. Championships]]|p1=2nd|lv1=J|p2=10th|p3=2nd|p4=2nd|p5=2nd|p6=1st}}
}}

=== Professional career ===
{{Figure skating competitive highlights
|level=professional
|season1=1992–93|season2=1993–94|season3=1994–95|season4=1995–96|season5=1996–97|season6=1997–98|season7=1998–99|season8=1999–00|season9=2000–01|season10=2001–02|season11=2002–03|season12=2003–04|season13=2004–05
|{{FS placements|13|Battle of the Sexes on Ice|p5=2nd}}
|{{FS placements|13|Challenge of Champions|p1=1st|p2=1st|p3=3rd|p6=2nd|p7=2nd}}
|{{FS placements|13|Gold Championships|p3=1st|p4=1st|p5=1st}}
|{{FS placements|13|[[Ice Wars]]|p3=1st|p4=1st|p8=1st|p9=2nd|p10=1st|p13=2nd}}
|{{FS placements|13|Rock 'N' Roll Championships|p5=1st|p6=2nd}}
|{{FS placements|13|Ultimate Four|p4=3rd|p5=2nd|p7=2nd}}
|{{FS placements|13|[[World Professional Figure Skating Championships|World Professional Championships]]|p1=1st|p2=2nd|p3=1st|p4=2nd|p5=1st|p6=1st|p10=2nd}}
|{{FS placements|13|World Team Championships|p3=2nd|p4=2nd|p5=2nd|p7=2nd}}
|{{FS placements|13|[[Hershey's Figure Skating Challenge]]|p7=2nd|p8=1st}}
}}

=== Pair skating with Rudy Galindo ===
{{smalldiv|
* GP – Event of the [[ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating|ISU Grand Prix Series]]
* J – junior level
}}
{{Figure skating competitive highlights
|level=senior and junior|
|season1=1984–85|season2=1985–86|season3=1986–87|season4=1987–88|season5=1988–89|season6=1989–90
|{{FS placements|6|[[World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]]|p5=5th|p6=5th}}
|{{FS placements|6|{{small|GP}} [[NHK Trophy]]|p5=3rd|p6=4th}}
|{{FS placements|6|{{small|GP}} [[Skate America]]|p3=5th|p6=2nd}}
|{{FS placements|6|Skate Electric Challenge|p5=1st}}
|{{FS placements|6|[[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|World Junior Championships]]|p2=5th|lv2=J|p3=3rd|lv3=J|p4=1st|lv4=J}}
|{{FS placements|6|[[U.S. Figure Skating Championships|U.S. Championships]]|p1=5th|lv1=J|p2=1st|lv2=J|p3=5th|p4=5th|p5=1st|p6=1st}}
}}

== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

|+ {{sronly|Bong Joon-ho's performances}}
|-
! scope=col | Year
! scope=col | Title
! scope=col class="unsortable"| Role
! scope=col class="unsortable"| Notes
! scope=col class="unsortable"| {{Tooltip|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}
|-
! scope=row | 1994
| ''You Must Remember This''
| Herself / Madame X
|
|
|-
! scope=row | 1994
| ''[[D2: The Mighty Ducks]]''
| Herself ([[Cameo appearance|Cameo]])
|
|
|-
! scope=row | 1995
| ''Aladdin on Ice''
| Jasmine
|
|
|-
! scope=row | 1997
| ''[[Everybody Loves Raymond]]''
| Herself ([[Cameo appearance|Cameo]])
| Episode: ''The Dog''
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite book |title=Everybody Loves Raymond: Our Family Album |publisher=Pocket Books |last1=Romano |first1=Ray |author-link1=Ray Romano |last2=Rosenthal |first2=Phil |author-link2=Phil Rosenthal |last3=Caltabiano |first3=Tom |author-link3=Tom Caltabiano |last4=Havrilesky |first4=Heather |year=2004 |pages=148 | isbn=9780743496476 |oclc=475680761}}</ref>
|-
! scope=row | 1998
| ''The Great Skate Debate II''
| Skater
|
|
|-
! scope=row | 2001
| ''On Edge''
| Regional Judge #4
|
|
|-
! scope=row | 2003
| ''Freedom: A History of Us''
| Haruko Obata
| Episode: ''Depression and War''
|
|-
! scope=row | 2005
| ''[[Go Figure (film)|Go Figure]]''
| Herself ([[Cameo appearance|Cameo]])
|
|
|-
! scope=row | 2012
| ''Pandora Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice''
| Herself – Host
|
|
|-
! scope=row | 2013
| ''[[Hell's Kitchen (American TV series)|Hell's Kitchen]]''
| Herself (Dining room guest)
| Episode: ''17 Chefs Compete''
|
|-
! scope=row | 2018
| ''[[Fresh Off the Boat]]''
| Herself / First Lady Kristi Yamaguchi-Huang
| Episode: ''King in the North''
|
|-
! scope=row | 2023
| ''[[I Have Nothing (TV Series)|I Have Nothing]]''
| Herself
| Episode 1: ''Package For The Bird''
| <ref name=":6" />
|}

== Bibliography ==
* Yamaguchi, Kristi (December 31, 1997). ''Figure Skating for Dummies''. Foster City, CA: IDG Books. {{ISBN|0-7645-5084-5}}. 346 p.
* ----- (April 28, 1998). ''Always Dream''. Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company. {{ISBN|978-0878339969}}
* ----- (March 1, 2011). ''Dream Big Little Pig'', Naperville, IL: [[Sourcebooks Jabberwocky]]. {{ISBN|978-0-545-44969-4}}. 32 p.
* ----- (March 1, 2012). ''It's a Big World, Little Pig!''. Naperville, IL: [[Sourcebooks Jabberwocky]]. {{ISBN|978-1402266447}}. 32 p.
* ----- (October 4, 2016). ''Cara's Kindness''. Naperville, IL: [[Sourcebooks Jabberwocky]]. {{ISBN|978-1492616863}}. 32 p.

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name=CT920830>{{cite news | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-08-30-9203190192-story.html | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221013165102/https://www.goldenskate.com/pro-am-figure-skating-results/world-professional-figure-skating-championships-landover-md/ | title = Urbanski, Marval Melt Ice, Reunite | first = Phil | last = Hersh | work = Chicago Tribune | date = August 30, 1992| archive-date = October 13, 2022 }}</ref>
}}

== References ==
* Nomura, Gail M. (1998). [http://www.credoreference.com/entry/rcuswh/japanese_american_women "Japanese American Women,"] in ''The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History'' (Mankiller, Barbara Smith, ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin. {{ISBN|9780618001828}}; {{OCLC|43338598}}

== Further reading ==
* Schwindt, Troy, [http://www.usfigureskating.org/Story.asp?id=32291&type=news "Yamaguchi Honored in Thursday Night's U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Ceremony"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728150515/http://usfigureskating.org/Story.asp?id=32291&type=news |date=July 28, 2011 }}, US Figure Skating Association, December 8, 2005

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Kristi Yamaguchi}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{webarchive |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20160304173440/http://kristiyamaguchi.com/ |date=mdy |title=Official website}}
* [https://alwaysdream.org/ Kristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream Foundation]
* {{Team USA Hall of Fame|new_id=kristi-yamaguchi}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030613041312/http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/heroes/bio_uk.asp?PAR_I_ID=69421 |date=June 13, 2003 |title=Kristi Yamaguchi at Olympic.org }}
* {{Olympics.com profile}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{IMDb name}}

{{NavigationOlympicChampionsFigureSkatingLadies}}
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{{NavigationUSChampionsFigureSkatingPairs}}
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{{NavigationWorldJuniorChampionsFigureSkatingPairs}}
{{Dancing with the Stars (United States)}}
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{{Alameda County (California) Women's Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yamaguchi, Kristi}}
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