Request More Info
Print Page
Video
Auto Racing Baseball Basketball Football Golf Hockey Olympians Soccer Sports Commentators |
|
BONNIE BLAIR World Champion Speedskater
A native of Champaign, Ill. and a resident of Milwaukee, the 30-year-old Bonnie Blair has a score of personal and athletic achievements to her credit, including:
The most decorated woman in U.S. Olympic history and the winningest American in Winter Olympics history. Gold medals include the 500 and 1,000 meters, Lillehammer, 1994; 500 and 1,000 meters, Albertville, France, 1992; and 500 meters, Calgary, Canada, 1988. Bonnie Blair also won a bronze medal in the 1,000 meters at Calgary in 1988.
Bonnie Blair is also recognized for the following:
* Only U.S. Winter Olympian to win a gold medal in the same event in three Consecutive Olympics.
* World record holder 500-meter speed skating: 38.69 seconds set February 1995, in Calgary, Canada
* Associated Press 1994 Female Athlete of the Year.
* SPORTS ILLUSTRATED's 1994 Sportsperson of the Year.
* World record-holder for overall points (156.505).
* World record-holder in the 500 meters (38.99 seconds), Calgary, March 1994.
* U.S. National Sprint Champion, 1985-94.
* United States Olympic Committee's Sportswoman of the Year, 1992 and 1994.
* USOC's Woman Speedskater of the Year, 1985-94.
* GLAMOUR magazine's Women of the Year Award, 1994.
* James E. Sullivan Award (nation's top amateur athlete), 1992.
Underneath Bonnie Blair's streamlined uniform beats the heart of a true competitor in an unheralded sport -- speed skating. After demolishing world-class competition during a brilliant career, she raced only time itself. In March 1994, Blair finally broke the 39-second barrier for 500 meters, then shattered it again with a 38.69-second world record that will likely stand for decades.
|