Schools
Kristi Yamaguchi Visits Grove Avenue School
The Olympic Gold Medalist turned children's author read her new book to students in conjunction with the school's annual book fair.
Olympic Figure skating champion, Kristi Yamaguchi visited school in Barrington Tuesday encouraging every student to dream big. The gold medalist and world champion read her new children’s book, Dream Big, Little Pig, at an all-school assembly. The book is about an ice skating pig who wants to be a star.
“Poppy was a pot bellied waddling, toddling pig. She was a pig with dreams. She was a pig who dreamed big,” Yamaguchi read from her book.
Yamaguchi says Poppy, who’s in search of where she fits in, is a little like herself. She told the students when she was young, she was shy and small.
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“I wasn’t great at team sports, but for some reason skating was magical to me, kinda a little bit what Poppy felt when she stepped on the ice,” said Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi began skating at the age of six. After 14 years of many, long practice days at the rink, she won the Olympic gold in 1992. One student asked her what was her secret to success.
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“My coach told us plain and simple it takes hard work,” she answered. “But you also need to believe in yourself, because it gets hard on that road to pursuing your dreams. But if you believe in it and want it –you find the strength to work through those obstacles and get a step closer to your dreams.”
Yamaguchi inspired Grove 5th grade student Karlie Kotel. “She never gave up, she kept trying, she followed her dream and she was a champion,” said Kotel.
“I like that Poppy kept trying to find something she liked, kept trying to do something and found what she really liked,” said 5th grade student, Maggie Trippet about the book.
Yamaguchi received a warm welcome at Grove with signs and artwork made by the children. She is the first celebrity to sign the gymnasium wall and is giving each student a signed bookmark.
Grove Principal Dr. Cindy Kalogeropoulos gave Yamaguchi some t-shirts ad other school mementos. Introducing the skating legend she said, “We know Kristi Yamaguchi is going to inspire us to dream big, to set very high goals and to be better kids and adults than we are.”
A mother of two young girls, Yamaguchi said her own daughters inspired her to write a children’s book, a dream she had for awhile.
“I felt lucky to have wonderful guidance and support when I was pursuing my dreams,” she said. “I just wanted to have a positive message in the book to pass that on to the next generation.”
A portion of the proceeds from the book will go toward Yamaguchi’s Always Dream Foundation and its early childhood literacy initiative.
“We’re trying to get a book in every child’s hand, obviously focused on the underserved communities out there for kids.”
Yamaguchi said her biggest achievement was winning the Olympic gold, but said that opened doors to so many opportunities like Dancing with the Stars where she won the mirror ball trophy. She always roots for her partner, Mark Ballas, but this season she’s got her eye on a celebrity dancer.
“I have a soft spot for Ralph Macchio growing up with the Karate Kid. I think he’s done amazing so far. I’m excited to see him throughout the competition.”
One students asked Yamaguchi what her dreams and goals are for life. She answered, “Now its my family and trying to be the best mom I can be.”
But she’s also enjoying fulfilling her dream as an author. Dream Big, Little Pig is on the New York Times bestsellers list and she’s working on Poppy’s next adventure with a second book hitting bookstores next spring.
