Olympic Champion Kristi Yamaguchi Surprises Her Daughters with Her Own Barbie Doll (Exclusive)

Kristi Yamaguchi s Kids Were Flabbergasted to Learn About Her Barbie Doll

Kristi Yamaguchi. Momodu Mansaray/WireImage

Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi, a figure skating icon, was recently honored with a Barbie doll replica, a surprise that initially shocked her teenage daughters.

Yamaguchi, 52, shared exclusively with We earlier this month that her daughters Keara and Emma, aged 18 and 20, grew up playing with Barbies. However, they were taken aback by the news as they were now more interested in Barbie movies at their age.

She mentioned that at first, they seemed a bit surprised and even questioned, "You? Really?" They were a little skeptical because she was just their mom. However, she believed that deep down, they may have felt a sense of pride.

Yamaguchi's doll is now part of Barbie's "Inspiring Women" collection, which also includes figures inspired by influential women like Maya Angelou, Anna May Wong, and Jane Goodall. The doll is dressed in Yamaguchi's famous 1992 skating outfit, the same one she wore when she won the gold medal at the Olympics.

Yamaguchi praised the Barbie replica, saying, "It's an amazing recreation with so many fun details to work with. Even the shininess of the gold on the black outfit and the bouquet of flowers, inspired by the one I received on the podium, were included. Mattel pays attention to important details, making the replica truly incredible."

Kristi Yamaguchi s Kids Were Flabbergasted to Learn About Her Barbie Doll

Mattel

According to Yamaguchi, the black-and-gold outfit was chosen by doll designers since it was “so symbolic” of her Olympic experience.

"It was such a special moment for me when I wore that dress for the competition. I think everyone expected it to happen," she shared, expressing her excitement at seeing the final product for the first time. She was thrilled with the attention to detail, mentioning even the small gold bow on the back of the ponytail made from the same material as her dress, down to the brand of skates she wore. It was a truly amazing experience for her, and she believes the costume designer, Lauren Sheehan, will be ecstatic to see it.

Mattel recently unveiled a doll inspired by Yamaguchi to kick off Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Heritage Month. This is a significant tribute as Yamaguchi made history as the first Asian-American athlete to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics.

"It's really meaningful to me because AAPI month is a celebration of various cultures within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, embracing diversity," she shared with Us. "The release of my doll and being the first Asian-American woman to win Olympic gold in the winter games is a tremendous honor."

Kristi Yamaguchi s Kids Were Flabbergasted to Learn About Her Barbie Doll

Yamaguchi shared, "It was a moment that I was truly proud of. I hope to inspire the next generation of young athletes and dreamers out there to pursue their dreams. It's important for them to see that it is possible for anyone, including themselves, to achieve their goals."

Editor's P/S:

Kristi Yamaguchi's Barbie doll is a beautiful tribute to her accomplishments as an Olympic figure skater and her role as an Asian-American icon. The doll is part of Barbie's "Inspiring Women" collection, which celebrates influential women from around the world. Yamaguchi is the first Asian-American woman to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics, and her Barbie doll is a testament to her hard work and dedication.

The doll is a beautifully detailed replica of Yamaguchi's famous 1992 skating outfit, and it comes with a bouquet of flowers inspired by the one she received on the podium. Yamaguchi praised the doll's attention to detail, saying, "It's an amazing recreation with so many fun details to work with. Even the shininess of the gold on the black outfit and the bouquet of flowers, inspired by the one I received on the podium, were included."