Winning is not everything for skater Ohno

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Apolo Ohno stands on the brink of becoming America's most decorated male Winter Olympian yet remains philosophical about his place in the record books.

With the Vancouver Games five months away, the affable 27-year-old speed skater says the pilgrimage to the podium is more important than actually getting there.

"The goal in my sport is to prepare my mind, body and soul 100 percent so that I can race and be able to cross the finish line with my head held high, regardless of what place I get.

"For me, that's the ultimate goal, much more important than trying to win gold, silver or bronze," he told Reuters. "It's the preparation phase that I'll remember when the spotlight is gone."

Ohno, a Seattle native who has won a total of five medals over two Olympics, agonized after the 2006 Turin Games over whether he should launch a bid for Vancouver 2010.

"I spent many, many hours alone, just running, or being by the beach and I noticed that of my skating memories very, very seldom was I ever thinking of standing on the podium.

"They were all of the times when I was the lowest in training or at my most tired -- the obstacles, the challenges and how I responded to them.

"Like the times when the weather was crazy, whether it was too hot or when it was snowing like crazy and nobody else was outside. It's the man-against-man things that I remember."

MOTIVATIONAL MESSAGES

Ohno, whose five-medal haul ties him with fellow speed skater Eric Heiden among American Winter Olympians, keeps in touch with his fans through Twitter, Facebook and his own website (www.apoloantonohno.com).

He often writes motivational messages, such as: 'Pain is weakness leaving the body' or: 'Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do'.

"I'm writing to inspire others and let other people in my life and my mind," he said. "But I'm also inspiring myself. It's a reminder of: 'Hey Apolo, are you doing everything to represent your country the best you can?'"

Ohno is a deep thinker, a trait often at odds with his public persona of a bandanna-wearing free sprit who waltzed away with the top prize in the popular television program "Dancing with the Stars."

He credits the Japanese heritage of his father, Yuki Ohno, for his reflective mind-set.

"The older I get the more and more I liken myself to some of the same elements of that Asian philosophy toward life and toward whatever craft you're involved in," he said.

NEW GENERATION

Ohno enjoys watching the pre-race practice of Jamaica's champion sprinter, Usain Bolt, who cavorts around the track with a wide smile and a happy-go-lucky approach.

"He looks like he's having so much fun, he's so relaxed," said Ohno. "There's something about him. He looks like the new generation of athlete -- someone who is still intensely focused when he gets in the blocks but beforehand he has a really refreshing way of preparing for the race.

"It's nice to see someone who is so utterly dominant in a sport who has taken a different approach. He seems so fresh and new."

Ohno said there were times when he could relate to Bolt's demeanor.

"On one aspect, I'm focused and quiet," he said. "Very internal. Everything happens within my brain and within my body.

"But if you look at me sometimes during training, I've got my headphones on, dancing around the rink. People probably think I'm crazy."

Ohno said for February's Vancouver Games he was toying with the idea of shaving off his trademark 'soul patch', the tuft of facial hair between the lower lip and the chin.

"Part of me wants to shave it off just to see what I look like," he said. "I haven't seen my chin in years. Maybe I have one of those dimple chins. I have no idea."

(Editing by Clare Fallon)