Olympics Gold Medalist uses an osteopathic doctor for sports injury treatments

Apolo injury flares up at Games

11:02 AM PST on Wednesday, February 22, 2006
By MIMI JUNG and ALLEN SCHAUFFLER / KING 5 News



Apolo Anton Ohno is being treated for a flare-up of a leg injury he sustained last fall, according to his father, Yuki Ohno.


According to Yuki Ohno, Apolo had been feeling fine until his first day on the practice ice in Torino. Yuki Ohno told Mimi Jung of KING 5 News that getting Apolo healthy has been his primary focus and that his son's recovery this past week has been "phenomenal." He calls it a "miracle" that Apolo's been feeling much better.

When Jung spoke with Apolo Ohno after his 1,000 meter final, Ohno told her he had a lot of pain in his legs and Yuki Ohno attributes some of that to the ankle and hamstring injury. Yuki Ohno has a blog on NBCOlympics.com and in it he wrote in part:

"He needed to overcome his injury, stemming from the ankle, connecting his pelvis to his hamstring firing pattern that he was troubled with since Day 1 at ice training session in Torino. His osteopathic doctor, Dr. Lavine from Tacoma, Wash., has been with him all week to heal his injuries.

"It's just so demanding, he needs to heal extremely quickly in order to be back on the level he should be. But it's been moving positively and his status has been upgraded every 24 hours. Day-to-day the difference in his healing is taking an amazing turn!"

U.S. Speedskating is now acknowledging there is some kind of physical problem, but they're downplaying it, saying they don't want to give out a lot of information and give opponents an edge.

Ohno skates today (Wednesday) in the 500 meters and will race in the 5,000 meter relay.