Yamaguchi was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in December of 2005. She is married to her husband Bret Hedican. Her net worth is estimated to be about $8 million in 2018.
Kristi Tsuya Yamaguchi was born on 12 July 1971, in Hayward, California. Her father Jim Yamaguchi was a dentist while her mother Carole was a medical secretary. She is a third-generation descendant of Japanese emigrants. She has two siblings, Brett and Lori.
Yamaguchi was home-schooled for the first two years of her high school and later attended Mission San Jose High school to graduate.
Kristi Yamaguchi first began to win the doubles competition. She was partnered with Rudy Galindo and the two went to win the junior title at the U.S. championships in 1986. She and Galindo won the pairs title at the 1988 World Junior Championships and she won the singles titles as well that same year. Galindo won the 1987 World Junior Championships. The two won the senior pairs title at the U.S. championships in 1989 and the following year of 1990.
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In 1990, Yamaguchi decided to focus solely on singles and parted ways with Galindo. In 1991, Yamaguchi began training under coach Christy Ness. She made a second place finish in the U.S. championships that year coming behind Tonya Harding. It was her third consecutive silver medal at the Nationals. Despite her silver finish at the nationals level, she was able to finish first in the 1991 World Championship winning claiming the title of world champion.
In 1991, the American ladies team consisting of Yamaguchi, Harding and Nancy Kerrigan swept the Worlds podium. Kristi Yamaguchi won her first U.S. title in 1992 and earned herself a spot at the 1992 Winter Olympics. In the competition, she won the judges over Harding and Midori Ito of Japan to become the 1992 Olympic Champion. She was also able to successfully defend her world title that year.
After the end of 1991-1992 competitive season, Kristi Yamaguchi turned professional and toured for many years with Stars on Ice. She participated in various pro competition circuit.
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Aside from figure skating, Yamaguchi has also become an author. She wrote the book Always Dream, Pure Gold and Figure Skating for Dummies. She also wrote the children's book, Dream Big, Little Pig which won Gelett Burgess Children's Book Award and was #2 on the New York Times bestseller list. She has made numerous television appearances and has become a skating broadcast analyst on many occasions.
Kristi Yamaguchi and Bret Hedican's wedding was held on July 8, 2000. Her husband is a former professional hockey player who she met at the 1992 Winter Olympics as he was playing for Team USA.
She has two daughters; Keara Kiyomi and Emma Yoshiko of her relationship with Hedican. She currently resides in Alamo, California with her family. She is currently aged 47 and is still the wife of Hedican.
Kristi Yamaguchi was a nationals representative in figure skating as well as an Olympic gold medalist. Her achievements during her professional years suggest that she should have been paid a huge amount but her earnings and salary have not been disclosed.
However, her current net worth is valued to be at $8 million which includes her posh home located at Alamo, California.
