Q1: Can you talk about those last few seconds? You looked frustrated?

OHNO: I don’t think … frustrated … I was hurting pain-wise in my legs end of the race … end of the day. There were a couple opportunities for me to move up on Ahn, but they were just skating so tight and any type of move would probably result in disqualification and I didn’t want to risk it, so … Obviously, I wanted to win the race, but it didn’t turn out that way. I now have a bronze, silver and gold, so that feels pretty good.

Q2: Do you get satisfaction out of the bronze?

OHNO: Absolutely, I think more than anything for me being able to bounce back. I was talking to somebody in there. I was checking my emails over the last couple of days and—usually I just totally just shut myself off from all friends and family, except for my dad—so I was checking my emails and I was getting some stuff from back home from Seattle from some of the guys that I train with … it was just unbelievable, you know, the support I was getting. People were just saying, you know, 'Apolo, you’re the best.' One guy is like, 'You da man, here and now, breath and relax.' So for me, to hear that stuff at the Games was very powerful. To know that that passion to win is still there, but at the same time, that passion to go out there and do your best is even more important. And that really boosted me to be able to do my best. My dad and I had a real long talk before coming in tonight. Our goal was to come in and say, ‘Apolo, what you want to do is come off that ice … it doesn’t matter what place you get … you want to be able to come off that ice and say, 'I fought my hardest.' I went out there to battle and I gave everything I had to be able to walk off. I mean, I made some mistakes; I could have skated the race better, but all in all, it was pretty powerful for me to be able to come back from the other night."

Q3: What could you have done better?

OHNO: Every single race I could have changed something. I could have moved up earlier. I could have made a pass here. I could have tried an outside pass. There are a lot of things I could have done. But, here and now, in the present it didn't happen that way, so I’m very happy.

Q4: What did it mean when you threw your hands up like that?

OHNO: That was like a wow,' you know. Couldn't believe it. In short track, lap times usually decrease as the race goes on. It looks like it’s getting faster, but the last couple laps usually get a little slower and we were going fast at the end, especially on this soft ice. It was more throwing my arms up, like, 'Man, there was just no room to move.' That was my emotion.

Q5: Do you ever see the Koreans so strong in one event?

OHNO: Yes. Yes and no. This is something that they thrive on, short track speedskating. The South Koreans have always been very strong, but I don't take from anyone out there, anyone who competed today. The Chinese. Rusty got in the final; it's been a long time for him. And it was good. It felt good to have another teammate in there. All in all, I think I'm very happy with the way I competed.

Q6: Do you think Le impeded you on the last lap?

OHNO: I don't think so. No, there were no calls, so…

Q7: Before you went, did you know that Shani had won?

OHNO: I did. I did. I love it man. I wanted to go out there and hug when I saw him on TV. That kid is phenomenal. I would really love to share this moment with him right now. His first medal, my third medal. He’s the best. He really is and I’ve seen him grow over the years. That medal is all him. I think it’s just unbelievable what he’s done. And I think he’s got many more chances.

Q8: Does it make the day more special because the U.S. team isn’t doing as well and you two win medals on the same day?

OHNO: It's hard, you know, competing in the Games that overseas is always different than in Salt Lake. That emotion from those emails that I was getting and the phone calls that I get is so powerful from the American fans and from the U.S. in general and that’s really what pushes us athletes at a level we’ve never even dreamed of.

Q9: This is the 13th U.S. medal, which ties the record for any non-domestic Olympic Winter Games. Does that mean anything to you?

OHNO: A little bit. This is only my second Games, so hopefully more to come, we don’t know, but I'm just looking forward to the next couple of races.

Q10: Talk about your conversation with your dad …

OHNO: My dad was just like, 'Don't worry about it, Apolo. You came here to compete. You're not a robot. You're a human being. You train your heart out to come out here and compete with the best.' I think we were both disappointed that I wasn’t able to make that final and challenge these guys and get on that podium, but sometimes that uphill battle is sweeter when you're able to get there, like tonight.

Q11: What are your thoughts on the race?

SMITH: It was a fast race. I went out there and tried to do my best. I skated well all day and I'm extremely pleased with the way I skated. The end result was the best three guys in the world got an Olympic medal and I was behind them.

Q12: Are you disappointed?

SMITH: You know I always sit here and listen to people say, 'if you give it your best, it's worth it.' And I always said, it was bull all the time. Winning an Olympic medal is worth more than skating your best. I might disagree with that right now. I skated well all day, better than I have all year and it made the last four years extremely worth it to me to put in all the hard work that I have and the injuries that I've overcome.

Q13: What about the Koreans?

SMITH: They're all skating very well. The Koreans are skating extremely well and you've got to give it to them. They’re on top of their game, but it’s not like we're off by a lot. You're talking minor, minor things.

Q14: Apolo looked frustrated at the end when he was trying to pass, did you see what happened?

SMITH: I was skating. I got fourth place. Thanks.

Q15: This wasn't your best event and you set the Olympic record for the second time …

SMITH: I held it a little longer last time. I think I had it for two days. This time I had it for about two hours. I was extremely pleased with the first day. It got me into the groove. I was hoping that I was going to come out and skate my best again. And you know what, it worked out. I skated well. I made it into the finals. I haven't been in a 1,000-meter final in … I can’t tell you how long. This is the first season that I haven't made a World Cup final in my life. The first time that I made a World Cup final was when I was 14. So it's another step. I made it back to the Olympic final. And you know it just didn’t work this time.

Q16: Why do you think you made it back?

SMITH: I work hard everyday. We always get asked the question, what makes one person better than everybody else? Do they sit back and do different things than you? No, that's not the answer. We work hard every single day. And it comes out sometimes. I just prepared correctly for it and the injuries … I finally put them behind me. And it's taken a long time.

Q17: Did you surpass your own expectations?

SMITH: No, my expectations were just a little bit higher, maybe, two or three places.