Apolo Ohno has not competed since the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and the speedskater says he is “pretty sure” he is retired.
Ohno told SI.com’s Nick Zaccardi Wednesday that he will be working for NBC as a correspondent during the 2014 Games in Sochi and that he doesn’t envision a return to the ice.
“I think it’s pretty sure at this point [that the comeback is] not going to be,” Ohno told Zaccardi. “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.”
Ohno, 30, has done some TV work this year, including hosting “Minute to Win it” on Game Show Network that will begin airing in June. He also acted in the TV movie “Tasmanian Devils.”
Ohno is an eight-time Olympic medalist. He won two medals at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, and three in both Turin and Vancouver.
Until now, he had not given a firm comment about his retirement plans. He said in January that he had “not made an official decision either way.” This seems to indicate that he is done.
