Talking with Kristi Yamaguchi, now promoting flu shots

Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi is the chairwoman for the American Lung Association's Christmas Seals campaign to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. She is currently doing public service announcements about the serious health risks of getting the flu and the importance of flu shots.Yamaguchi, 37, is remembered for her graceful skating and triple jumps in the 1992 Winter Olympics, but is known to a new generation of fans as the most recent winner of "Dancing With the Stars." She is married to professional hockey player Bret Hedican. They have two young girls.A conversation in Q&A format:Q: Do you have a personal reason for supporting the American Lung Association?A: I had lost my grandfather to lung cancer when I was about 15 years old, so yes. I think I always wanted to promote lung health, and when the opportunity came up to work with them on the influenza campaign, I was really excited. The message that they are trying to get out (about) influenza hits close to home.Q: When your parents first put you on the ice, did you resent it or love it?A: I loved it. You know, I begged my mom to take me. She was kind of reluctant, but when she finally took me there was something magical about it and I wanted to keep going back.Q: Would you want the same for your children? I mean, skating did take up a good part of your youth.A: You know, it's hard to say; I mean, I would do it all over again. I felt that was what I wanted. I didn't feel I sacrificed that much because I chose to be a skater. I think it's up to my kids. If they find something that they really love and have a special talent in, then I think I would try to nurture it. Obviously my husband and I want to put education first and hard work in school, and then see what else comes about.Q: How much did your skating background help you win "Dancing With the Stars"?A: There are definitely elements I brought in and tried to work to my advantage. Everyone on the show typically has some type of performance background. On the ice it's OK to be a little more introverted and you focus technically. Whereas this dance show, it is purely entertainment, and I had to learn to open up and show more emotion dancing.Q: Can you still do the triple loops and all those leaps and spins on the ice?A: No. (Laughing) I wish. Pretty much once I stopped touring and I started my family, my focus completely changed. At this age it's dangerous, (laughing) oh my God.Q: Does your husband dance with you?A: Not yet. I am hoping to get him on the dance floor. He is going to play hockey for one more year. He is pretty busy training and involved with that. He always was interested in it and had talked about it. He was itching to do it from the sidelines and would say, "Oh, that looks like so much fun. How do you guys do that?" But who knows, we will see.Q: You are not tall, but you have kept your figure even after two children. What is your workout routine?A: After my first daughter I went back to skating right away. After our second, Emma, I didn't quite have the time or energy to do that and didn't really get back on the ice. I skated a little bit. I didn't have a specific workout program that I kept to, which was hard. It was the first time in my life where I felt, "Wow, I'm not being as active as I'd like to be." Then I did "Dancing With the Stars" and thought at least I can get active again.Q: Once you stopped skating, were you looking forward to being out of the spotlight for a while, or did you enjoy it?A: I was definitely ready to be a mom and a stay-at-home mom. I was lucky enough to have that growing up, and after having children that is where I wanted to focus. You know it's kind of a balance. I am still doing some things here and there.Q: And so I'm guessing you get your flu shot every year.A: Yes. I've been getting it probably since the late '80s because our competitive season goes through the flu season, and my mom was always like, "You can't afford to get sick."(Patricia Sheridan can be reached at psheridan(at)post-gazette.com.)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)