Gold Medal Drama: Apolo Ohno Sues Ex Over Olympic Memorabilia

Sometimes the aftermath of a breakup involves awkward conversations with mutual friends. Sometimes it involves court filings and six figures in damages. Olympic speed skating champion Apolo Ohno is currently dealing with the latter, having sued ex-girlfriend Anna Pham over her refusal to return hundreds of items he claims belong to him.

According to the lawsuit obtained by TMZ, the dispute involves far more than just emotional keepsakes. Ohno alleges that Pham is holding onto studio and audio-production equipment, photographic and video equipment, electronics, apparel, a firearm, and computer hard drives containing what he describes as irreplaceable content. But here’s where it gets really specific: Olympic race and training footage, documentary footage he’s apparently been holding for future commercial sale, an unpublished book manuscript, and personal Olympic photographs.

The relationship ended back in 2023, though the two remained friendly through much of 2024—which makes the current legal battle feel like a dramatic turn. Ohno sent a written demand via Instagram in October 2025 requesting his belongings back. Pham did return some Olympic medals, but apparently that wasn’t enough to resolve things. Now Ohno is seeking $385K in damages.

Here’s where the story gets interesting from Pham’s perspective. She’s telling a different version of events, claiming that Ohno had actually agreed to let her return his stuff on her own timeline and had even offered to cover the costs when she was ready. It’s the kind of he-said-she-said dispute that suggests there may have been some miscommunication about what“whenever you’re ready”actually meant in a legal sense.

What this really underscores is how messy personal property disputes can become, especially when high-value items and irreplaceable content are involved. Whether it’s Olympic medals or unpublished manuscripts, the distinction between“I’m letting you keep this temporarily”and“this is yours now”can mean the difference between a friendly breakup and a courtroom drama. The lawsuit plays out as a cautionary tale about getting clarity on shared property—and maybe keeping a digital record of who owns what, even when you’re on good terms.