Ohno chooses skating over Hollywood, for now

By Steve Ginsburg

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Apolo Ohno's decision to set his sights on the Vancouver Winter Olympics and forego, at least for now, the glitter of Hollywood was not an easy one to make.

"I battled with that choice, no doubt," the short track speedskating overall world champion said.

Ohno's good looks, charisma and stage presence were in full view in Dancing with the Stars, a television show where celebrities compete in a weekly showdown of salsa and tango.

He went toe-to-toe against, among others, 'N Sync band member Joey Fatone, supermodel Paulina Porizkova and Paul McCartney's former wife Heather Mills, winning the crown and broadening his fame well beyond the skating rink.

Hollywood, however, could not lure Ohno away from next year's Vancouver Games despite the temptation of less stress, more money, and a glitzy, limousine lifestyle.

"I've gotten this far in my life having been blessed with these gifts to be able to speedskate," the affable 26-year-old American told Reuters in a recent telephone interview.

"My body is still healthy. I'm still young enough. If I go into directing, producing, acting -- whatever it is in the entertainment world -- those opportunities will be there when I'm done skating.

"Maybe they won't be there to the degree as some would like. But at this point in my life I want to focus on things that are important to me. I won't be skating five or 10 years from now."