Figure Skating Icon Kristi Yamaguchi To Accept 2025 Stan Musial Lifetime Achievement Award For Sportsmanship

OLYMPIC CHAMPION WILL BE HONORED FOR HER EXCELLENCE, CLASS, AND PHILANTHROPIC IMPACT IN NATIONALLY TELEVISED MUSIAL AWARDS NOVEMBER 22 AT STIFEL THEATRE IN ST. LOUIS

ST. LOUIS – October 6, 2025 – As graceful and talented as anyone on the ice, Kristi Yamaguchi exceeded her gold medal accomplishments in figure skating with a dynamic philanthropy and enormous positive impact on young people following her athletic career. Her ever-present ebullience, determination to reach the pinnacle of her craft, and penchant to uplift others make Yamaguchi a most deserving recipient of the 2025 Stan Musial Lifetime Achievement Award for Sportsmanship.

Yamaguchi will accept the highest award for sportsmanship at this year’s Musial Awards presented by Maryville University on November 22 at Stifel Theatre in St. Louis. The special award recognizes iconic sports figures who have embodied class, dignity, generosity, integrity, and excellence throughout their lives and careers. Previous recipients include Bob Costas, Bill Bradley, Albert Pujols, Wayne & Janet Gretzky, Hank Aaron, Bart Conner & Nadia Comaneci, Jim Thome, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Cal Ripken, Jr., Arnold Palmer, and Joe Torre.

“We are thrilled that Kristi Yamaguchi is receiving the pinnacle honor bestowed at the Musial Awards,” said Marc Schreiber, president of the St. Louis Sports Commission and executive producer of the Musial Awards. “Kristi is one of the most successful, influential and beloved figure skaters of all time. With her outstanding blend of class, grace, humility and generosity, she embodies the qualities that Stan The Man was known for and what the Musial Lifetime Achievement Award represents.”

The Musial family expressed: “The Musial family is so happy that Kristi Yamaguchi is accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award named for Stan. As a competitor, role model and humanitarian, she has long demonstrated a passion for excellence and kindness. She understands the magnitude and responsibility of her success, and she carries that with respect, engagement with her fans, and compassion for all. We are honored to have the opportunity to celebrate her achievements, virtues, perseverance, and the way she has inspired so many.”

Met with challenges from the day she was born, Yamaguchi overcame a bi-lateral clubfoot condition through leg casting, corrective shoes, and braces. Inspired by Dorothy Hamill, Yamaguchi began skating at age 6 as physical therapy for her clubfeet impairment. Her love of skating took off from there, with impressive dedication as she regularly rose at 4 a.m. to get skating in before school. Yamaguchi attained the highest levels of her sport as a two-time world champion, and in 1992 followed her first U.S. championship title with Olympic gold in Albertville. Her effervescence both on and off the ice captured the nation’s attention and hearts – growing the reach and popularity of figuring skating in America. As the first Asian American to win a Winter Olympics gold medal, Yamaguchi inspired and paved the way for Michelle Kwan, Nathan Chen, Apolo Anton Ohno, Chloe Kim, Alysa Liu, and others to achieve Olympic success.

When she retired from competitive skating, Yamaguchi turned her Olympic fame into a force of goodwill and positive influence. She dove into promoting figure skating through the Stars on Ice tour, of which the Make-A-Wish Foundation was a beneficiary. Working with Make-A-Wish families and kids sparked her next venture as she started Always Dream in 1996. The early years of Always Dream focused on fulfilling needs for underprivileged children, and in 2011 Always Dream narrowed its focus to early childhood literacy, fostering family engagement and a love of reading as a foundation to lifelong learning and opportunity.

“Being a successful athlete is great, but my parents always taught me the importance of giving back and improving my community, so the Musial Award is touching to me personally because of what it means beyond my accomplishments on the ice,” said Yamaguchi. “I knew I had the support and encouragement to go after my dreams, but I wanted every child out there to have access to whatever their dream is.”

More than just a facilitator of childhood literacy, Yamaguchi has written several children’s books including the New York Times best-selling Dream Big, Little Pig. In authorship, she has also exhibited Musial-worthy selflessness and character, especially with her book Cara’s Kindness, an inspiring pay-it-forward story that highlights the message of lending a helping hand expecting nothing in return.

Yamaguchi’s off-ice impact is nothing short of prolific. She created a fashion line designed to empower women. Her seemingly boundless energy and desire to always help those in need have delivered everything from basic necessities for families to Olympic-level tutelage on the ice. In addition to all her charitable work, she has mentored and motivated young skaters Karen Chen and Alysa Liu as they’ve risen from raw talents to national champions and Olympians.

Yamaguchi is a member of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee Hall of Fame, the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame, the World Skating Hall of Fame, and received numerous awards, notably the Women’s Sports Foundation’s Flo Hyman Award and the USOPC’s Jesse Owens Olympic Spirit Award.

The nationally televised Musial Awards annually celebrates the year’s greatest moments of sportsmanship and those in sports who exemplify class and character. It is named for St. Louis Cardinals legend Stan Musial, a beloved baseball icon and civic ambassador, who was the ultimate good sport. The show celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and takes place at the historic Stifel Theatre on Saturday, November 22 at 7 p.m.

Musial Awards tickets range from $11 to $48. In addition to individual awards show tickets, the Musial Awards offers a special Honoree Circle ticket, which includes orchestra level seating just behind the honoree section, a pass to the Musial Awards After Party and reserved parking for $150. More information and a link to purchase tickets is available at MusialAwards.com/tickets. Groups of 10 or more can take advantage of special group pricing by calling 314-345-5144.

The Musial Awards will air throughout the country on CBS on December 28. This is the seventh consecutive year the network will broadcast the most inspiring night in sports.

The full lineup of 2025 Musial Awards honorees will be announced later this month.

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The Musial Awards presented by Maryville University is produced by the St. Louis Sports Commission and the National Sportsmanship Foundation, a charitable nonprofit organization. In addition to keeping Stan The Man’s legacy alive, the mission of the Musial Awards is to encourage kindness, selflessness, integrity and civility in sports and society – and to inspire people across the nation to be good sports. The event has occurred in St. Louis since 2005. Maryville University has served as the presenting sponsor since 2011. The school’s involvement, leadership and generosity have helped make the Musial Awards the most inspiring night in sports®.