This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Looks like Apolo Anton Ohno won't be chasing any more gold medals.
The legendary short-tracker has confirmed what everybody in international speedskating has long suspected — that he will not compete at the 2014 Sochi Olympics in Russia, almost certainly ending his illustrious skating career.
Ohno told Sports Illustrated that he will instead work as a correspondent for NBC in Sochi.
"I think it's pretty sure at this point [that a comeback is] not going to be," Ohno said. "It was always in the back of my head. I just didn't want to rule it out. I've been very blessed, had such an amazing career, overcome a lot of obstacles in my life. It's time to try some different opportunities."
The 30-year-old is the most decorated U.S. winter Olympian, with eight medals — including two gold, one of which he won during his breakout performance at the 2002 Salt Lake Games. He also won three overall World Cup titles.
But Ohno has not competed since the 2010 Vancouver Olympics in Canada, while pursuing various advertising, television and film endeavors.
He has appeared on "Dancing With the Stars" twice, appeared in a movie for SyFy network, and recently finished filming as a host for the Game Show Network's "Minute to Win it," which will begin its first season in June.
Most within speedskating have thought for a long time that Ohno was done with short-track, the fast and furious version of the sport in which skaters race head-to-head in packs around a hockey-sized rink. But Ohno repeatedly refused to commit to either retiring or racing again, leaving open the possibility that he would come back and try for a fourth Olympics.