Ohno stars in Seoul, on ice

The Olympic gold medalist from Seattle was disqualified in races Friday and Saturday in Seoul, and was so ill Sunday he wasn't sure he would be able to race. Ohno did, winning the 1,000- and 3,000-meter events at the second World Cup event of the short-track speedskating season.

"We weren't ready for those first two World Cups, physically," Ohno said Wednesday, referring to an event in China earlier this month as well as the weekend races in Seoul. "But we've had some pretty good results out of them, so I think we're pretty close to being on track to where we need to be."

The final destination, after two more World Cup events, is the 2006 Winter Games.

Ohno definitely is one of the faces of the U.S. team that will compete Feb. 10-26 in Turin, Italy. It has been difficult to turn around in this town this week without seeing his image -- and that trademark "soul patch" on his chin -- on posters and banners.

Wednesday, it was Ohno in the flesh that was seemingly everywhere.

In addition to his scheduled interview session on the final day of the U.S. Olympic team media summit, Ohno took part in promotional events for an anti-doping campaign by the National Olympic Education Program and a makeover of his dorm room at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

Ohno did the first because he believes strongly in keeping not only his sport, but all sports clean.

"Being involved in this message about being clean plays a huge role in younger people looking up to Olympic athletes," said Ohno, who will appear on more posters and also in spots to be run in movie theaters. "There is absolutely no other way to compete. There should be no question."

He was a willing contributor in the other, as well, because it also hits close to home. Ohno's was the first room renovated by Hilton, a makeover highlighted by a new full-size bed.

"The bed is awesome," Ohno said. "Sleep for an athlete is crucial. That's the only time that the body really takes a full break and starts to regenerate."

Ohno needed a good night's sleep, or three, after the way things went in Seoul over the weekend.

He was just one of the U.S. speedskaters who came down with flu-like symptoms Friday. He made the finals in the 500 anyway, but was disqualified for bumping another skater.

"I couldn't wait to get off the ice," he said. "I felt horrible."

Saturday, despite feeling better, he was disqualified in the finals of the 1,500 for impeding while trying to pass two skaters on the inside.

Sunday, he had a setback physically but somehow managed to win the gold in the 1,000 and 3,000.

"I felt the worst out of the whole time I'd been there," he said. "I felt horrible. I didn't even make it to banquet after. Usually, I always go to the banquet. Definitely, it was bringing me down."

Ohno also wasn't sure what kind of reception he would get from the Seoul crowd after receiving e-mailed death threats after his gold-medal victory in the 1,500 at the 2002 Olympics when a South Korean skater was disqualified.

"I think part of it was hyped up quite a bit," he said. "Certain people within the organization were kind of mad at the image of me, and then the anti-American sentiment kind of blended together.

"I wasn't sure what to expect. But I was very happy with the crowd reaction."

Not as happy as he was to be back home, and sleeping in his new bed.

P-I reporter Clare Farnsworth can be reached at 206-448-8016 or clarefarnsworth@seattlepi.com.