Perfect 10

American Fitness, Sept, 2000 by Bonnie Siegler

World-class figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi talks about staying fit on and off the ice and her newest TV project.

Olympic and World Skating Champion Kristi Yamaguchi takes her last deep breath and controls her nerves. Only then does her thin blade touch down on the ice. The 28-year-old, who won her first major singles title during the 1991 World championships in Munich, Germany, still dazzles everyone with nearly perfect combinations of artistic expression and athleticism. Ever graceful and light as air, gliding across the ice and straight into our hearts, she emerged on the eve of the 1992 Olympics as the reigning U.S. and World Champion, skating to the Blue Danube Waltz. "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," says Yamaguchi.

But don't let her seemingly effortless spins fool you. She lives in a world of high pressure, where staying in shape is a top priority. "A large part of skating is about how you look," admits the 5' 1" size 2, who says her favorite costume is the black and gold outfit worn at the 1992 Olympics. "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. Obviously, I have to be in good health to skate well, but I think you become more aware of fashion in skating and how it complements or detracts from a performance."

With so many eyes focused on her figure, the 95-pound champion (whose inspiration was figure skater Dorothy Hamill) puts in some serious workout time in the gym 3 days a week. Yamaguchi divided her mostly-aerobic workout into aerobic exercise, strength training, stretching (to avoid bulk) and Pilates[R]. "I do a cardio workout on the bike for 30 minutes and then light weight work and floor exercises such as abdominal crunches," she explains. "I do stretches and back strengthening exercises, too. My new thing is one-legged squats with one leg up on a bench. They're pretty difficult so they're challenging. I have to work on my rear end more than anything else. In the sport I do, you need a lot of strength, but my backside always needs more work than other parts. I do three sets of 10 lunges holding 20- to 25-pound free weights. When I have extra time, I'll go to a Pilates class so my muscles don't build up." She also puts in rink time 5 days per week. "I try to practice for 90 minutes, but it's pretty hard to get into the rink these days with my schedule."

Being on the road for months on end is tough enough, but Kristi is also putting together A Golden Moment: A Skating Concert on Ice, with 90 percent of proceeds to help support the fight against breast cancer. Yamaguchi's Always Dream Foundation is partnering with the Susan G. Komen Foundation for this event, which will take place October 21, 2000, in Oakland, California, and will be televised November 24 on CBS.

Love on the ice happened back in the 1992 Olympics when Yamaguchi met Bret Hedican, a hockey player who now plays professionally for the Florida Panthers. "We briefly met and got reacquainted in 1995 in Vancouver where he was playing. We kept in touch, became friends, started dating and now ...," she says, pausing with a big smile.

On July 8, 2000, Yamaguchi and Hedican were united in matrimony at the Orchid in Mauna Lani on the Island of Hawaii. Three hundred friends and relatives gathered to celebrate the occasion as Yamaguchi wore an original off-white silk gown, hand painted in Paris and designed by Vera Wang. Her headpiece was a turn of the century heirloom diamond tiara on loan from Fred Leighton of New York. The groom's suit was designed by Blair Shapera and the vest was made from Japanese wedding kimono material by Onano. Among the guests at this beautiful event were fellow Olympians Scott Hamilton, Peggy Fleming, Brian Boitano, Ekaterina Gordeeva and Todd Eldredge.

"So it's been pretty stressful this year, but I find the rink is my escape from it all," Yamaguchi continues. "When I'm out there, I don't think about anything but skating."

Besides skating, Yamaguchi has seen another technique work wonders for keeping fit. "I got slendering results from eating lots of fruits and vegetables--fresh foods without preservatives. I also stick to low fat, nonfat and I've also increased my tofu intake," she says. She has also increased her fiber intaked. "I try to eat a high-fiber cereal in the morning and top it with fresh fruit. Raisin bran is my favorite. Lunch could be a turkey sandwich and dinner is a lot of chicken or fish.

Not one to count fat grams or calories, Yamaguchi does admit to having a sweet tooth. "I love Haagen Das ice cream," she says. "I do splurge every once in a while since I have to satisfy my cravings. The I try to get some extra exercise, even if it's just playing with my dog or parking a little further from my destination.

Overall, Yamaguchi says that staying lean and fit is not about putting out maximum effort every day, but rather about making a consistent effort that works with her lifestyle. "Exercise and eating healthy, balanced meals plus taking vitamin supplements has worked really well for me. I don't have a strict diet, but I try to watch what I eat. Professionally, I need good health for skating and keeping up my endurance. I'd like to think I can continue skating as long as I'm enjoying it, which will be for many years. I think health is the most important thing in life. If you're not healthy, then it's really hard to focus in any other area of your life. And I have a lot to focus on right now," she says, laughing.