Current:Home > StocksHow Kristi Yamaguchi’s Trailblazing Win Led to Her Own Barbie Doll-LoTradeCoin
How Kristi Yamaguchi’s Trailblazing Win Led to Her Own Barbie Doll
View Date:2024-12-23 20:41:01
Kristi Yamaguchi left France with more than just a gold medal.
The figure skater also became the first Asian American woman ever to win at the Winter Olympics. But she didn't step on the ice 32 years ago expecting to make history.
"At 20, it was kind of overwhelming, like, 'Oh, wow, what just happened?'" Kristi told E! News in an exclusive interview. "I remember feeling the incredible support and the pride from the Asian American community."
But while the 52-year-old has cemented a prolific legacy in the three decades since that iconic moment, winning gold at the 1992 Winter Olympics remains a moment that stands out—for her and Olympic history. And now it's a moment immortalized forever. Kristi now has her very own Barbie doll—donning her black leotard with dazzling gold accents and her black and red bouquet—as part of Mattel's Inspiring Women series for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
"It was surreal to see the doll finished," she recalled. "It's like, 'Wow, that's my 20-year-old self.'"
In reaching this achievement, she couldn't help but reflect on other pioneers, like the late Anna May Wong, the first Asian American actress, who was honored with a doll last year.
"Looking back," the Dream Big, Little Pig! author explained, "I have a greater appreciation for the generations before me, who paved the way for that to be able to happen."
"It's incredible to have the opportunity to inspire other young girls out there," she continued. "With all the challenges they face and the things they overcome, having role models out there where they can think, 'Hey, if they can overcome it, if they can have a big dream, so can I.'"
Kristi knows this experience first-hand as she's previously reflected on bringing her Dorothy Hamill Barbie doll to the rink as a child, hoping to one day follow in the famed Olympian's footsteps.
But her doll wasn't just a toy or decoration—it was motivation.
"As a 6-year-old, there was something meaningful to me about having Dorothy's doll next to me as I would jump, fall and pick myself back up again," Kristi recently wrote in an essay for USA Today. "She was there for me, reminding me of my dream and inspiring me."
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (3)
Related
- Love Is Blind’s Chelsea Blackwell Reacts to Megan Fox’s Baby News
- This Week in Clean Economy: Major Solar Projects Caught Up in U.S.-China Trade War
- As Ticks Spread, New Disease Risks Threaten People, Pets and Livestock
- Remember the Titans Actor Ethan Suplee Reflects on 250-Pound Weight Loss Journey
- The White Stripes drop lawsuit against Donald Trump over 'Seven Nation Army' use
- Joe Biden Must Convince Climate Voters He’s a True Believer
- Colorectal cancer is rising among Gen X, Y & Z. Here are 5 ways to protect yourself
- Weaponizing the American flag as a tool of hate
- Mike Tyson impresses crowd during workout ahead of Jake Paul fight
- Jimmy Buffett Hospitalized for Issues That Needed Immediate Attention
Ranking
- Brian Austin Green’s Fiancée Sharna Burgess Celebrates Megan Fox’s Pregnancy News
- Kourtney Kardashian announces pregnancy with sign at husband Travis Barker's concert
- Florida bans direct-to-consumer auto sales but leaves carve-out for Tesla
- Colorectal cancer is rising among Gen X, Y & Z. Here are 5 ways to protect yourself
- Hurricane-damaged Tropicana Field can be fixed for about $55M in time for 2026 season, per report
- Teen Mom's Maci Bookout Celebrates Son Bentley's Middle School Graduation
- Read the transcript: What happened inside the federal hearing on abortion pills
- Northeast Aims to Remedy E.V. ‘Range Anxiety’ with 11-State Charging Network
Recommendation
-
Hurricane forecasters on alert: November storm could head for Florida
-
Sickle cell patient's success with gene editing raises hopes and questions
-
Vehicle-to-Grid Charging for Electric Cars Gets Lift from Major U.S. Utility
-
Climate Change Fingerprints Were All Over Europe’s Latest Heat Wave, Study Finds
-
Will Trump curb transgender rights? After election, community prepares for worst
-
N.Y. Gas Project Abandoned in Victory for Seneca Lake Protesters
-
Exxon Shareholders Approve Climate Resolution: 62% Vote for Disclosure
-
Vehicle-to-Grid Charging for Electric Cars Gets Lift from Major U.S. Utility