Colin Lerner was the first person in line at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the Syracuse University Bookstore for the Apolo Ohno book signing that would begin at 3 p.m.

Lerner, a sophomore education major, was saving the spot for his 80-year-old grandmother.

‘She just loves him so much and is his biggest fan,’ Lerner said.  ‘When I found out that they were having this book signing, I called my parents and arranged a surprise trip for my grandmother so she could be here and meet Apolo in person.’

Olympic gold medalist Ohno appeared at SU to discuss his new book ‘Zero Regrets: Be Greater Than Yesterday’ and sign copies. More than 600 students, staff and Syracuse community members attended the event in the Schine Student Center. Ohno talked about his childhood, his father’s influence and his philosophy toward success.

‘I wanted to share with everyone that it is not how you start, but it’s about where you finish,’ Ohno said. ‘Anyone looking for inspiration or to better themselves, you can find motivation in the book, and I really do share every emotional journey.’

Schine anticipated a turnout of around 300 and ended up selling more than 500 books, using all of the books from its displays and taking books from Ohno’s tour bus to meet the crowd’s demands.  

More than 35 Schine staff members were directing the crowd and specifying which page of the book to have opened before reaching Ohno so that he was able to sign all the books in an hour.  

Leah Deyneka, the academic support coordinator for the bookstore’s general book department, said because the event was well organized, no one was turned away from the book signing. Deyneka said she hopes the Ohno event would be the start of holding more high-profile guests at Schine. 

When it was time for Olga Borges, Lerner’s grandmother, to meet Ohno, she said she thought they connected.

‘It might be a bit presumptuous to say, but when I told Apolo that I love him, I think we really connected,’ Borges said. ‘I have been a fan of Apolo’s since day one because he is such an inspirational kid.’

The meeting was a surprise for Borges, who received a call telling her she was going to be picked up at 6 a.m. from her home in Long Island and to look cute. But she had no idea where they were going. 

‘I can’t believe my grandson did this for me,’ Borges said.

At the signing, Ohno shared advice he learned from his father: Everyone should find something they love and give it 100 percent.

‘The main inspirational thing to take from this book is to enjoy all aspects of your journey,’ he said. ‘The wins, but also when you get knocked down because it’s a wonderful opportunity to learn from those mistakes and to come back stronger.’

Ohno was raised by his father after his parents divorced. At his father’s encouragement, Ohno realized he should live a meaningful life and said he now chooses to live every day like it is his last and not let success change him.

Ohno began his short track speed skating career as a teenager in 1995 and has since gone on to win eight Olympic medals. He also came in first place on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ in 2007. Ohno has taken his own advice and said he is continually working to better himself. Before the 2010 Winter Olympics, he lost 20 pounds and doubled his strength, enabling him to break the record for the most medals won by a U.S. Winter Olympian.

‘When I look back at my career, it wasn’t me standing on top of the podium or crossing the finish line that I remember most,’ Ohno said. ‘It was those times that I had to battle my own insecurities and self-doubts and those four years of training behind the curtain when there was no media that resonate the most with me.’

Katherine Hart, an undecided freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, arrived to the signing 30 minutes early. She said she looked up to Ohno for working hard and being dedicated to his sport.

‘You can learn from the book how to always better yourself,’ Hart said, ‘which is a great motto to have and really applies to developing college students.’

lalevy@syr.edu

Published on November 7, 2010 at 12:00 pm