Biography

The Japanese-American Kristi Tsuya Yamaguchi was born on July 7, 1971 in Hayward, California, but was raised in both Fremont, CA and Reno, NV. She stands at 5'1" and weighs 93 lbs.

Kristi was one of the first U.S. women to compete in both pairs' events and ladies' singles, and was also Ladies' World Junior Champion. In 1989, 1990, and 1991, Kristi was second in the U.S. in ladies' singles' skating, and in 1991, she won the World Championship. Kristi then fulfilled a lifelong dream and won the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics. She was the first U.S. woman to win since Dorothy Hamill in 1976. The 1995/96 season marked Kristi's fourth year with Discover Card and with Stars on Ice, which appears in major cities throughout North America.

America's sweetheart, as she is often called, is currently touring with fellow Olympic medalists, Paul Wylie, Scott Hamilton and Katarina Witt.