March 5, 2013
Posted by: Jae-Ha Kim
Category: Go Away With..., Interviews
Tags: Brittany Bowe, inline skating, Japan, Kazakhstan, Olympics, Russia, Salt Lake City, Sochi, speedskating
“I just got home from Japan, and it is by far one of the coolest places I’ve ever been to,” says U.S. speedskater Brittany Bowe. “The culture is so unique. We actually got to do a little bit of sightseeing on this trip and visit some of the temples. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. All the castles and architecture of Europe are beautiful. But then seeing Japan and its architecture is completely different and so special. Also, we went to Kazakhstan for a World Cup race and it was by far the coldest place I’ve ever been to so far. But it was a beautiful area. The buildings looked so cool and futuristic.”
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Jonny Moseley first saw snow when his family moved to Northern California. The mogul skier would go on to compete at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, where he won the first American gold of the Games. Since then, he’s hosted shows for MTV, was named one of People magazine’s most eligible bachelors, graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, got married and became a father. He has also added the title of “guru” to his resume. Moseley is one of ZOZI.com’s celebrity guides, who lead everyday folks on adventures.
August 7, 2012
Posted by: Jae-Ha Kim
Category: Go Away With..., Interviews
Tags: 4x100-meter freestyle relay, Beijing, Bloody Mary's, Bora Bora, Jason Lezak, London, Olympics, swimmer, swimming
The 2012 London Olympics is the fourth Olympics in which American swimmer Jason Lezak, has competed. He swam in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay preliminaries, which helped the United States reach the finals, where they won a silver medal. While this race wasn’t quite as exciting as the same race at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 — where Lezak swam the crucial anchor leg that helped propel the U.S. to a gold medal — the California-based athlete says every competition at the Games has been memorable in its own way. Lezak, 36, spoke from London, about how swimming has given him an opportunity to see the world.
June 12, 2012
Posted by: Jae-Ha Kim
Category: Interviews, Travel
Tags: Alaska, Australia, Barcelona, Dutch Indonesian, France, Go Away With..., Holland, KIM VANDERBERG, Olympics, swimming, Travel
A bronze medalist at the 2008 Olympics, swimmer Kim Vandenberg is hoping to be part of the United States contingent that will compete at the 2012 Olympic Games in London this summer. “You never know what can happen at the Olympic Trials,” says the 28-year-old Californian. “I’m more experienced than the last time and I feel well prepared. There’s definitely some nervousness when you compete, but since this is my second time trying to make the Olympic team, I know what to expect in terms of emotional requirements at trials. I’m looking forward to it and try to take things one day at a time.”
Sports agent Evan Morgenstein is used to the comparisons to Tom Cruise’s character in “Jerry Maguire.” But he says that Jeremy Pivens’ portrayal of uber-agent Ari Gold in “Entourage” was more true to life, because Gold ticked more people off. “I’m a little bit like them,” says Morgenstein, 46. “But I’m taller and have more clients.”
Swimmer Amanda Beard won her first Olympic gold medal in 1996 at the summer games in Atlanta. Now 30, the swimming champion — who has won seven medals at the Olympics — is hoping to bring home more gold for the United States in her fifth consecutive Olympiad this summer in London. Beard, who also has a successful sideline career as a model (including a nude spread in Playboy), recently penned “In the Water They Can’t See You Cry” (Touchstone, $24.99). The revealing memoir gives readers a look at the struggles she faced with bulimia, learning disorders and broken relationships.
April 3, 2011
Posted by: Jae-Ha Kim
Category: Go Away With..., Interviews
Tags: Brazil, California, Filipino, gold medalist, Hamura Saimin, Hawaii, Hog Island Oyster Company, Kauai, Natalie Coughlin, Olympics, Spam musubi, swimmer
Many people know that Natalie Coughlin is a world champion swimmer. She has won 11 Olympic medals, three of them gold, and made history in the 2008 Summer Olympics when she became the first American female athlete in Olympic history to win six medals in one Olympics.
August 28, 2010
Posted by: Jae-Ha Kim
Category: Go Away With ... Index
Tags: Alex O'Loughlin, Apolo Anton Ohno, Bobby Flay, celebrity interviews, Emeril Lagasse, Hines Ward, index, Kevin Bacon, Natalie Coughlin, Olympics, Travel, Troy Polomalu
Please click on the “READ MORE” option below to see which celebrities I have talked for my syndicated column, “Go Away With…” FYI, this column runs in some outlets as “Celebrity Traveler.”
Apolo Anton Ohno will be competing in his third Olympic Games this month. The short-track speed-skating champ already has five Olympic medals, two of them gold. Ohno also showed his dexterity on the dance floor by winning the mirror ball trophy on “Dancing with the Stars” three years ago. As for the sport that made him famous, Ohno, 27, says, “I’m just enjoying my sport and taking it day by day. Anything can happen in short track and I’m blessed that I still have the talent to skate competitively and the desire to want to represent my country.”
Michael Phelps may not have matched Mark Spitz’s record seven gold medals, but the Olympic swimmer has him beat hands-down when it comes to style. The 19-year-old — who won six gold and two bronze medals at last month’s Olympic games in Athens — set tongues wagging when he competed in Speedos that rode down so low on his hips they made Britney Spears’ outfits seem demure by comparison.