Kristi Yamaguchi to skate her swan song in Portland

Copyright 2002 Bangor Daily News

After 15 years in the spotlight, figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi has decided to step back and take a breather.

Her April 20 visit to Portland with her Target Stars on Ice cast-mates, for a 7:30 p.m. show at the Cumberland County Civic Center, will mark the end of Yamaguchi's touring career, at least for the time being.

Touring with Yamaguchi are Tara Lipinski, Katarina Witt, Lucinda Ruh, Kurt Browning, Todd Eldredge, Ilia Kulik, Steven Cousins and Denis Petrov and pairs skaters Jenni Meno and Todd Sand and Anjelika Krylova and Oleg Ovsiannikov.

Her plans are to spend more time with her husband, professional hockey player Bret Hedican; her family and her friends. She'll continue to work with her Always Dream Foundation, which has promoted awareness of breast cancer and of children's organizations in her hometown of San Francisco. She'll also skate at special events.

"I'm basically getting off the road," said Yamaguchi from a tour stop in Greenville, S.C.

Portland has been the end of careers for her Stars on Ice cast-mates Scott Hamilton, Rosalynn Sumners and Paul Wylie. But Yamaguchi, 30, won't rule out returning to touring sometime in the future.

"I love Stars on Ice," she said. "It's the best tour out there, and I'm sure I'll miss it. But I don't want to make a commitment now."

In her final show, the skater will perform three numbers. Her "goodbye" number will be skated to "Gold" by Linda Eder, a song to be included in an upcoming musical about sculptor Camille Claudel, Rodin's mistress.

"It's about a reflection on your life, about how you did your best and choose a path, knowing it was the right one," Yamaguchi explained.

She'll also perform a more high-energy number to Janet Jackson's "Trust a Try." The former U.S. pairs champ (with Rudy Galindo) will also do a pairs number with Denis Petrov to "One Day I'll Fly Away," from "Moulin Rouge."

Yamaguchi exits after a highly successful career, which saw her rack up an Olympic gold medal, two world championships, a U.S. national championship and four world professional championships. She's a member of the U.S. and world figure skating halls of fame.

A decade after winning her gold medal in Albertville, France, Yamaguchi was on the ice again at the recent Salt Lake City Olympics, and she and Katarina Witt skated in the closing ceremonies to the music of the rock band KISS.

"I was surprised they picked us to skate with KISS," she recalled. "I was like, 'Don't you want a guy?' But they were fun and really open, and invited us back up on the stage. They're legends, and it's fun to appear with them."

Yamaguchi enjoyed being part of the Olympic experience again.

"Being there brings back memories," she said. "I knew how special it was to everyone who's taking part in it. You cheer on everyone, and hope their dreams come true."

Yamaguchi can't believe that she's been a pro for 10 years now.

"I've learned a lot," she said. "It's been an incredible ride. I've been lucky, making the friends I have with touring."

Yamaguchi said she would miss the camaraderie with her fellow skaters most.

"I always knew I could pick up the phone, and say, 'Let's go to lunch,'" she said. "They've been my family away from home. I'll miss the skaters, and I'll miss the audiences, being able to perform for them."