Kristi Yamaguchi's journey from the ice rinks of Fremont to the top of the Olympic podium is a story about the power of dreaming big.
Born in Hayward and raised in the Bay Area, Kristi began skating at just six years old, lacing up her skates at the local rink in Southland Mall.
What began as a childhood fascination with the annual ice show evolved into a relentless pursuit of excellence. She trained before dawn throughout her childhood, hitting the ice by 5 a.m. and then heading to school.
"My parents had never skated before, so they didn't know what they were getting into," she recalls. "But maybe that was a good thing, because my mom ended up having to get up every morning at four."
By the time she was 20, Kristi had won a gold medal in Women's Singles at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France.
It was a life-changing moment. "I think it was just a culmination of 14 years of skating, training, ups and downs," says Kristi. "You only see the success at the end, but there were lots of challenges along the way."
She now spends her days as a literacy champion, leading the nonprofit organization she founded, Kristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream.
The organization focuses on tackling childhood illiteracy by putting books into the hands of Bay Area kids who need them most.
"Dreams start with education," she says. "I think kids have the greatest potential to reach their potential if they have a solid foundation of literacy."
The organization's "Always Reading" program provides families with books, digital resources, and strategies to cultivate a love of reading.
"We are building confidence in each child, nurturing the discovery of their unique voice, and inspiring them to dream bigger," says Kristi.
One story that stays with Kristi is that of a young boy named Israel who demonstrated the program's power: a reluctant reader transformed into a child with big dreams, all through discovering books that sparked his curiosity.
Israel discovered a book about the moon through the program, and that sparked his interest in outer space.
His family began seeking out more books about planets and space. Israel then declared he wanted to become an astronaut.
His father reflected that while it's just a dream now, he believes the program planted this aspiration in his son's mind through the power of books.
"It's simple things like that that make a difference in unlocking the imagination," she says.
Kristi is also a bestselling author of children's books. Her books often incorporate themes of perseverance, following one's dreams, and self-confidence, values she embodies from her skating career.
And yes, she still watches figure skating. Earlier this year, she traveled to Boston for the World Championships. "The sport's evolved," she says. "These kids are doing things we never dreamed of."
Her advice to young skaters following in her footsteps is simple: "Take group lessons to see if you really like it," she says. "Find a coach you connect with because they'll be the one standing at the side of the ice when you go out to compete all by yourself."
She urges skaters to dream big but emphasizes the importance of small goals along the way.
"Have a dream, and don't be afraid to dream big, like I dreamt of the Olympics," she says. "I didn't really know what that entailed as a young skater, but it was this big, aspirational dream for me."
Her love for the Bay Area runs deep. Despite living elsewhere during her career, she always felt pulled back to the region's diversity, innovation, and natural beauty.
She credits the area's spirit of dreaming big for shaping her journey." It's always home," she said. "It's hard to be anywhere else."
This October, the organization will host its annual Always Dream Gala at San Francisco's Palace Hotel -- a night of fundraising, storytelling, and dancing (courtesy of the San Francisco Giants' DJ Umami). Visit Alwaysdream.org/