Kristi Yamaguchi Inducted California Hall of Fame

Long before she won hearts for her grace and skill as an Olympic figure skating champion, Kristi Yamaguchi was just a kid with big dreams growing up in the Bay Area. Through her hard work, Yamaguchi has reached the pinnacle in multiple areas.

As a figure skater, she earned the title of World Champion in both 1991 and 1992. In ‘92 she also brought home Olympic gold. Then she moved on.

“I think when you hit the Olympics at 20 it’s kind daunting to think ‘Is this the pinnacle of my life?’ So I always look for that next challenge,” Yamaguchi said this week, as she arrived for the induction ceremony for the California Hall of Fame.

Moving off the ice, Yamaguchi is the winner of the 6th season of Dancing With the Stars. She also has a line of women’s active wear, writes best selling children’s books and, very close to her heart, started the Always Dream Foundation for children. “We bring reading programs into kindergarten classrooms to make sure our kids right here in our country have that foundation to have success in school and life.”

Yamaguchi is one of eight new inductees in the California Hall of Fame. The others are actor Robert Downey Jr., artist David Hockney, journalist and news anchor Lester Holt, martial arts superstar Bruce Lee, space pioneer Ellen Ochoa, country music icon Buck Owens and legendary Peanuts cartoonist Charles M. Schulz.

• Also See: ‘Peanuts’ Creator Charles M. Schulz Makes It Into California Hall of Fame

“California continuously reinvents itself and the people we honor have that combination of tradition, innovation and, of course, creativity,” said Governor Jerry Brown Wednesday night at the ceremony.

Yamaguchi summed up the experience, “Being a proud California girl, this is a really special night.”

--Image via State of California