As a young girl, Kristi Yamaguchi cherished her Barbie dolls, finding solace and companionship in them amidst her rigorous ice skating regimen. Now, as an esteemed Olympian, she finds herself stepping into the realm of Barbie as a source of inspiration herself.
“It’s an immense honor,” Yamaguchi expressed to The Associated Press. “It’s not just about celebrating my Olympic achievements but also being acknowledged during AAPI Month alongside remarkable women whom I admire — Anna May Wong, Maya Angelou, and Rosa Parks. Being mentioned alongside them is truly humbling.”
Yamaguchi, the trailblazing first Asian American to clinch an individual figure skating gold medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics, has been immortalized in Barbie’s “Inspiring Women Series,” coinciding with Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May.
This isn’t Yamaguchi’s initial dalliance with doll depictions. In the 1990s, the touring show Stars on Ice released a line of dolls inspired by renowned skaters, though the Barbie rendition boasts far greater intricacy.
Every detail of Yamaguchi’s iconic Olympic appearance in Albertville, France — from the resplendent black-and-gold brocade ensemble by Lauren Sheehan to the gold hair ribbon and even the red-and-white bouquet she held atop the podium — has been faithfully replicated by Mattel.
Yamaguchi expressed her and Sheehan’s delight, saying they are “absolutely thrilled.”
Furthermore, she approves of the doll’s likeness, completing a tribute to her remarkable journey on and off the ice.
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