Brand, David. Bonnie Blair generally travels from Milwaukee, WI, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances . Share Memory. Sports Illustrated (February 7, 1994): 90. ." New York Times (February 9, 1987): 166. Blair first donned skates at the age of two, and was competing as a speed skater by the age of four. [40][41] Blair became involved with Right to Play, When the Winter Olympics returned to the United States in 2002, Blair was one of the final torchbearers to carry the Olympic flame into Rice-Eccles Stadium for the opening ceremony in Salt Lake City, Utah. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. Jenkins, Sally. When Bonnie was still an infant, Charlie, who called the new baby "missy" because the pregnancy was a mistake, took a new job and moved the family to Champaign, Illinois, then considered a mecca for speedskating. Sports Illustrated named Blair their Sportswoman of the Year for 1994. "Bonnie Blue (now Bonnie Vaughn) lived across the street . Sports Illustrated (January 20, 1997): 4. At fifteen, Blair was named to the U.S. speed skating team. Denver Rocky Mountain News (February 15, 2002): 23S. When Bonnie Blair was born on 1 March 1928, in Magoffin, Kentucky, United States, her father, Samuel Blair, was 46 and her mother, Louise Gambill, was 35. She became almost as well known for her entourage of family and friendsa group deemed the Blair Bunch that had grown to more than 60 people by 1994who went with her to each of her Olympic competitions to cheer her on from the stands. But Dave gave me real direction.". We can also contact her at bonnie.hoellein@gmail.com for more information. . By those 10 1/2 inches, 23-year-old Bonnie Blair did what Mary Lou Retton didn't have the chance to do in gymnastics at the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles: defeat the world's best. I'm definitely going to miss hearing the sound of that gun. She is one of the top skaters of her era, and one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history. [5]:45 After the Olympics, Blair moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to train at the newly opened Pettit International Ice Center. Winning means you're doing better than you've ever done before. Blair's last year as a competitive speed skater was 1995. Immediate Family: Daughter of ALONZA LONNIE RATLIFF and MAUDE RATLIFF. Professionally, Charlie Blair was an engineer while Eleanor Blair worked in real estate. [19] She followed up her World Cup titles in by setting her first world record in the 500 meters with a time 39.43 seconds. They saw Blair win two more golds. ." Priestner had Blair train in the Olympic style on both short and long-track races. She was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Learn How rich is She in this year and how She spends money? Serendipitously, Milwaukee opened a new indoor skating rink in 1992, allowing her to train there all year. . In Olympic style, skaters skated in pairs against the clock. . Blair competed for the United States in four Olympics, winning five gold medals and one bronze medal. "He's the hardest worker on the team," Blair later told Angus Phillips in the Washington Post, "and he got me into that, too. [5]:44, The 1990-1991 season had setbacks for Blair. Blair's European trip had the desired effect, sharpening her skills for more competition. [37] Blair's success at Lillehammer placed her among the most decorate American Olympians of all time. Blair would also hold a number of world's and American records over the course of her speed skating career. Sports Illustrated (February 24, 1992): 18. She became the first American woman to win five gold Olympic medals and the first American Winter Olympian to win six career medals. The 53-year-old champion has stayed close to the sport, serving on the Pettit's board of directors and promoting Milwaukee, which is hosting. Blair's success came despite the fact that she was smaller and lighter than an average female speed skater. ", Blair competed as a speed skater one more season following her last Olympic win. Bonnie Blairwas raised in Champaign, Illinois. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures, Skoblikova, Lydia Edwin Mosess athletic achievement is extraordinary by any standards. She was the daughter of Charlie and Eleanor Blair, who raised their large Catholic family in Champaign, Illinois. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. (People jokingly said her job title was "Girl Friday," which is a reference to a character from Daniel Defoe's 18th century book Robinson Crusoe , because . [43] That same year she was a member of the U.S. Olympic delegation to Sochi. "Bonnie's bounty." "Yanks on the move." Corrections? "Blair, Bonnie Sports Illustrated (December 19, 1994): 72. She would win this championship every year through 1994. When Derek Parra set a new world record in the men's 1,500-meter speedskating competition at the 2002 Winter Olympics, h, Paavo Nurmi Watch a short video featuring Bonnie Blair. [7][9], Blair made her international competitive debut at the 1984 World Sprinting Championships where she placed tenth. She surpassed her 1988 Olympic performance, taking home the gold medal not only in the 500-meter event, but in the 1,000-meter race as well. Reilly, Rick. "The last lap." She used a low crouch and had a solid stroke. Sports Illustrated (February 27, 1995): 52. During the Olympics, Blair was given the nickname "Bonnie the Blur." Born in Philadelphia, she was the youngest of six children. Blair had more success in 1984, making the U.S. women's speed skating team for the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. "Blair, Bonnie 1. Blair also won gold in the 1000 meter race. At the 1984 Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (now in Bosnia and Herzegovina), she could finish no better than eighth in the 500-metre event. As Jere Longman wrote in the New York Times, "Blair has no mountains to climb. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2001. Bonnie worked at the Sleezer Home in Freeport until retirement in 2016. team. The Blair Bunch was back even stronger at the 1992 Games in Albertville, France, with about 45 members swaying in unison in their purple team jackets and singing "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean." She graduated from Centennial High School, and later took some courses at Parkland Junior College in Champaign. Though four of Blair's other siblings went on to win national championships, it was Blair who did the best as a competitive speed skater. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 6, 2002; February 18, 2002. Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in Cornwall, New York, the youngest of six children. Her father, a bricklayer, died in 1914, and Emma Parker moved the family to "Cement City" in West Dallas to live closer to . Bonnie Blair is a retired American speed skater who was one of the leading competitors in the sport. This is an individual sport.". Blair competed for the United States in four Olympics, and in her Olympic career won five gold medals and one bronze medal. "That's not to say I didn't have other great memories," she told Paula Parrish in the Rocky Mountain News, "but I think that had the biggest impact." In her teens, Blair began to apply herself to the sport of speed skating as she never had before, largely at the encouragement of her friend Dave Silk, who competed on the men's U.S. team. In 1992, Blair received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement. New York Times (February 19, 1995): section 8, p. 1. Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/bonnie-blair. Blair came from a family of avid skaters and began entering races when she was four years old. Detroit: Visible Ink Press, 1996. When the gun goes off, I don't worry about the person next to me. Because an indoor training oval, Pettit National Ice Center, opened in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Blair moved there from Champaign. Imperial Oil Web Site. Phillips, Angus. Though she did well at the meet, she did not make the team. She has five siblings. Address: c/o 306 White Pine Rd., Delafield, WI 53018-1124. An excellent student, she was allowed to graduate halfway through her senior year to focus on her training. Myrtle was born on July 26 1899, in Manassa, Conejos, Colorado, United States. seventeenth century), https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/blair-bonnie, http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/blairbon.shtml, http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0109013.html, https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/bonnie-blair, https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/blair-bonnie, Begins competing as member of national speed skating team, Competes at the Olympic trials, but does not make team, Wins Olympic gold and bronze at Winter Olympic Games, Wins two Olympic golds at Winter Olympic Games, Retires from competitive speed skating; becomes motivational speaker, Marries speed skater Dave Cruikshank on June 23, Won Illinois state championship in speed skating for age group, Won gold medal in Olympics speed skating in 500 meters, Won gold medals in 500 meter and 1000 meter at Olympics in speed skating, Won gold in 500 meters at World Championships, Won gold medals in 500 meters and 1000 meters at Winter Olympic Games in speed skating; won gold in 500 meters and 1000 at World Sprint Championships and World Cup; named Babe Zaharis Female Amateur Athlete of the Year; named Sportswoman of the Year by Women's Sports Foundation, Set 500 meters speed skating world record at Calgary; retired in March as speed skater; named Sportswoman of the Year by Women's Sports Foundation; won world sprint championship, Given Sports Humanitarian Award, World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. After the 1994 Olympics, Blair continued to compete. Sports Illustrated for Women, February 2002. Encyclopedia of World Biography. 12. Overall, Blair won 4 of 18 women's medals at the 1987 World Cup; East German skaters, including Rothenburger, won 13. Four of her siblings would hold speedskating titles. "Whooosh!." Speed skating coach Bob Fenn told Angus Phillips of Washington Post in 1992, "From a technical standpoint, she's the most efficient skater in the whole world. That is, races that were conducted with a number of skaters competing against each other in a pack. Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in Cornwall, New York, the youngest of six children. login . I love to go fast and create the wind. [2] Blair's family friends in the stands, affectionately known as the "Blair Bunch," became a staple of her competitive career. Blair dedicated her successes in Albertville to the memory of her father, who had died on Christmas Day 1989. Time (February 24, 1992): 54. Leo was born on January 4 1898, in Bountiful, Davis, Utah, United States. Rushin, Steve. Bonnie Kathleen Blair (born March 18, 1964) is a retired American speed skater. . Bonnie Pointer, a Grammy-winning singer and songwriter who was a founding member of vocal group the Pointer Sisters, has died at the age of 69. She won gold at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. ." The placement was due in part to the strategy of her coach, Peter Mueller; Mueller told Blair he would give her a signal to coast if he felt she was not on pace for a podium finish, allowing her to conserve energy. Longman, Jere. Who are Scott disick parents? Blair won her first gold medal at the 1988 Winter Olympics held in Calgary, Canada. Time (March 7, 1988): 69. She was a member of four U.S. Olympic Speed Skating Teams, winner of five Olympic gold medals between 1988 and 1994 . [34][35] At the 1993 World Sprint Championships, Blair did not win any of her four races finishing behind rival Ye Qiabo. She lived in Whitesburg, Letcher, Kentucky, United States for about 10 . Blair, under the weather with a cough and cold, finished second in the event. Although she was small for a speed skater, Blairs technique was nearly flawless. Sports Illustrated (December 6, 1987): section 2, p. 10. She was a pupil at Jefferson Middle School and Centennial High School. By the time Blair was fifteen, she decided to make speed skating her sole sport, training in a vigilant and dedicated fashion. Siblings. International Encyclopedia of Women and Sports. She did not medal, but finished eighth in the 500-meter race. professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks, donated $1,500 for her trip. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. 9.04M subscribers Subscribe to @olympics: http://oly.ch/Subscribe Highlights as Bonnie Blair takes part in her third Olympic Games. "Bonnie Blair is a 5-4 Colossus on Skates." 1994); Steve Rushin, "Child of Innocence: Bonnie Blair Grew up with the Ideal That CompetingNot Just WinningIs Everything," Sports Illustrated (19 Dec. 1994); and Steve Rushin, "The Last Lap: After Racing to Another World Title, Bonnie Blair Leaves the U.S. 5-time Olympic gold medalist speedskater Bonnie Blair Cruikshank is still hitting the ice at 57-years-old. Bonnie Blair. As a speed skater, Blair had exemplary technique which contributed to her success. Bonnie Tyler is currently 71 according to her birthdate June 08, 1951 Sun Sign Gemini Born Place Skewen, Neath, Wales Nationality Education Bonnie decided to quit school to focus on her music career. [37] By 1994, Blair's hometown of Champaign had renamed one of its streets Bonnie Blair Drive. Thus, the next Winter Games would be held in February 1994. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. On 23 June 1996 she married Dave Cruikshank, a fellow speed skater on the U.S. Olympic So far, this channel has garnered over 758.4 million views and more than 1.35 million subscribers. Bonnie Elaine Lorenc (born Blair) was born on month day 1925, at birth place, Utah, to Leo Amos Blair and Myrtle Hannah Blair (born Christensen). [5]:44 Confidence in coach Crowe had waned in the lead up to the 1988 Olympics, Blair helped to recruit Peter Mueller to coach the U.S. team. [26] Blair again won gold in the 500 meters, becoming the first woman to win the event in back to back Olympics, with a time of 40.33 seconds. Blair began to succeed on the international speed skating stage. Showing Editorial results for bonnie blair. By the time she was four years old, Blair was racing, and she loved it, competing against her older brothers and sisters and others in elementary and junior high school. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. Blair said she quit because there was nothing left for her to prove. Also in 1984, Blair competed at the Winter Olympics held in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. [27] Holding Blair back from more advertisements was both her choice of sports, which was thought to be less marketable, and ABC's coverage of the games, which failed to resonate with viewers. Blair competed for the United States in four Olympics, winning five gold medals and one bronze medal. Witteman, Paul A. Her husband, Dave Cruikshank, was also a speed skater and she served as his technical consultant. Cruikshank's mother is five-time Olympic gold medalist Bonnie Blair and her dad is four-time Olympian Dave Cruikshank. Bonnie graduated from Warren High School in 1969. Her win in the 500-meter event broke the world record, which had been set only minutes before by the East German skater Christa Rothenburger. In 1982, when Blair was 18 years old, her trainers wanted to take her to Europe to compete outside of the United States for the first time. Alice Blair, 86, of Tioga, an accounts processor for the Aramark Co. and a caregiver to her older siblings and neighbors, died in her sleep Dec. 17, of complications from dementia at Caring Heart Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Germantown. [23], Blair went on to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, where her first event was the 500 meters. No longer a relative unknown, Blair was considered a favorite when she headed to the 1992 Winter Olympics held in Albertville, France. Blair took up speed skating when she was two years old, joining a family of avid speed skaters. In Champaign, I'd miss a workout or two. The following summer Blair moved to Butte, Montana, where she enrolled at the Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology. Encyclopedia.com. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). She entered her first competition at age four and won her first race at age seven. American speed skater Bonnie Blair won six medals competing in three Winter Olympics Games, the second most medals won by a woman in the Winter Olympic Games (the first was Lydia Skoblikova ). (With Greg Brown) A Winning Edge, Taylor, 1996. Blair won the 1000 meter race by only .02 seconds. She was the youngest of six children, all of whom learned to skate at an early age. [19] Although Blair was four inches shorter than Enke-Kania, Blair's technique and fast start time made her a formidable competitor. (The International Olympic Committee wanted Summer and Winter Olympic Games to alternate every two years.) She also captured a bronze medal in the 1,000-meter event, becoming the only U.S. athlete to win more than one medal at Calgary. Training remained her focus, however. Paavo Nurmi (1897-1973) was one of the greatest distance runners of all time. "One-woman ice show." Blair competed for the United States in four Olympics, winning five gold medals and one bronze medal. Winning doesn't always mean being first. Bonnie Blair C and 7 others. Also, Jack Sikma, a In addition, Blair was active in charity work and continued to do some commercial endorsements for companies like General Mills products at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Bonnie Parker was born on October 1, 1910. No matter what the competition is, I try to find a goal that day and better that goal. Blair was also the first American speed skater to win in more than one Olympic Games (1988, 1992, and 1994). However, the date of retrieval is often important. Blair later ran on her high school track team, where, she later claimed, she did not stand out among her peers. When the 1994 Winter Olympics at Lillehammer, Norway, came around, Blair was again favored to win. Biography Bonne Blair began competing as a speed skater when she was four years old. 5", "Bonnie Blair: Biography from Answers.com", "Thanks to CC hockey for a memorable 3", "Wisconsin GOP lawmakers propose banning transgender athletes from women's sports", World Champions in Short Track Speed Skating Women's Overall, Olympic champions in women's 500 m speed skating, Olympic champions in women's 1000 m speed skating, World champions in women's sprint speed skating, Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, United States women's national soccer team, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bonnie_Blair&oldid=1132850666, Speed skaters at the 1984 Winter Olympics, Speed skaters at the 1988 Winter Olympics, Speed skaters at the 1992 Winter Olympics, Speed skaters at the 1994 Winter Olympics, Olympic gold medalists for the United States in speed skating, Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in speed skating, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 10 January 2023, at 22:20. She was so small at the time that her parents could not find skates that fit her, so she had to wear shoes under her skates. For nearly a decade betw, Heiden, Eric All of Blair's two sisters and three brothers speed skated competitively because of their father. par | Juin 16, 2022 | east bridgewater town election 2021 | valleydale hot dogs | Juin 16, 2022 | east bridgewater town election 2021 | valleydale hot dogs Blair continued to have success on the international level, though she also challenged herself to find ways to win. Noden, Merrell. In March 1995, shortly after winning the World Cup and setting a new world record in the 500-meter event, Blair retired from competitive speed skating. She was an exceptionally consistent skater, able to maintain an accentuated crouch and a smooth rhythm in her strides throughout a race, while other skaters typically lost time to momentary lapses in their technique. The Life Summary of Bonnie. Moving on, she has a net worth of approximately $1.5 million dollars. Cazeneuve, Brian. One of Blair's most influential coaches was Cathy Priestner (later known as Cathy Priestner-Allinger when she married Todd Allinger in 1986). "Bonnie Blair," Infoplease.com, http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0109013.html (March 10, 2003). Dec 6, 2013. I just want to go fast. She is one of the top skaters of her era, and one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history. 23 Feb. 2023 . . Janofsky, Michael. Now a world-class speed skater, Blair went on to set a world speed skating record in 1987, racing 500 meters in 39.43 seconds. In 1989 she won her first world sprint championship. The trials were a breeze for her. Ye trained by watching tapes of Blair. Explore Bonnie Blair Wiki Age, Height, Biography as Wikipedia, Husband, Family relation. During this last season, she shattered her world record time for the 500-meter sprint twice. [2] Two of Blair's competitors, who skated after her, subsequently beat her time; thus Blair won the bronze in the 1,000 meters. Bonnie Parker has 2 siblings, a brother, and a sister. She won the 500 meters with a time of 39.1 seconds and the 1000 meters with a time of 1:18.74. And as far as skating goes, she's got a lot of class.". Four days later, she took the gold in the 1,000-meter race, winning by just two one-hundredths of a second. As the 1992 Winter Olympic Games in Albertville, France, approached, Blair regained her focus on speed skating. The results were impressive. Her death was announced in a statement that. She dominated the 500-meter and 1,000-meter women's events at three consecutive Olympic Games during her career. . Bonnie Blair-Cruikshank's 21-year old daughter, Blair, has tested positive for COVID-19 and will not be able to compete in this week's U.S. long track speedskating Olympic trials at the. Veteran entertainer, TV presenter and dancer Lionel Blair has died aged 92, his agent has said. Following her retirement from competitive skating, Blair remained extremely active, both in her sport and outside of it. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Eugene Blair. At the Olympics, Blair was cheered on by her large extended family, including her parents, her brother Chuck, her sister Mary, along with Mary's husband and children, her sister Susie, her brother Rob and his wife and child, her sister Angela, and her uncle Lennie, along with the friends of all of her family members. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Parry, Melanie, ed. Bonnie Blair is a retired American speed skater. This allowed Blair to train seriously, including one stint with the U.S. men's speed skating team in Butte, Montana. So, the police department in Champaign stepped in to raise money for her trip, holding a series of raffles and bake sales. Matson, Barbara. American speed skater Bonnie Blair won six medals competing in three Winter Olympics Games, the second most medals won by a woman in the Winter Olympic Games (the first was Lydia Skoblikova). American track and field athlete https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/blair-bonnie, Petruso, A. Sporting News (February 14, 1994): S15. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. Bonnie Kathleen Blair (born March 18, 1964) is a retired American speed skater. "I'm like, 'She's my mom.' It's never really a thought, and I guess I won't ever really . [15] In May 1985, at a time when U.S. speed skating lacked unity, U.S. International Speedskating Association replaced national team coach Dianne Holum with Mike Crowe. She holds five gold medals, for the 500-meter and 1,000-meter events, as well as a bronze medal for the 1,000-meter event. American speed skater ." Blair was touched by the adulations of the crowd, saying that she had never heard any group of spectators cheer so hard for her. Bonnie Blair C Retweeted. "Blair, Bonnie ." [10] Later that year, Blair appeared at her first Olympic games at age 19 in Sarajevo. She repeated her victories in both 500m and 1000m speed. Shortly after Blair's birth, her family moved to Champaign, Illinois. Place of Burial: Paintsville, Johnson, Kentucky, United States. She won a number of races as a child, including the Illinois state championship when she was seven. [18], Early in 1987, Blair won World Cup titles in the 500 and 1,000 meters. Blair has also become an accomplished motivational speaker, addressing audiences on such topics as "Achieving Your Personal Best." Bonnie Parker first met Clyde Barrow through a mutual friend in January 1930, when Bonnie was 19 years old. Terms of Use, Lee-Kyung Chun Biography - Olympic Career, Post Olympic Achievements, Chronology, Further Information, Awards And Accomplishments, Bonnie Blair - Competed At Olympic Trials, Bonnie Blair - Related Biography: Coach Cathy Priestner, Bonnie Blair - Awards And Accomplishments. 1939- She was the first Canadian woman to win a medal in speed skating. [45] She also was Female Athlete of the Year as selected by the Associated Press in 1994. Blair also won the World Cup points championship 11 times. Though the race was not great, in part because the ice surface was too warm, the victory made Blair the first woman to win gold in consecutive Winter Olympic games. Her winning time was slower than her record setting pace in Calgary, however, the venue in Albertville was outdoors creating conditions which were less conducive for speed skating. Bonnie Blair is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Achieving Your Personal Best. . Her unprecedented Olympic success began at the 1988 Calgary Games. [31] Although she had won gold at the prior Olympics, Blair felt that her small stature made her an underdog against much larger East German competitors. She died on 13 May 1977, in Lima, Allen, Ohio, United States, at the age of 49, and was buried in Wells Mill, Floyd, Kentucky, United States. She won gold at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. Her stellar performance at the 1992 Olympics also earned Blair the Sullivan Award as the Best Amateur Athlete in the United States. Bonnie Blair. She also won two gold medals at the '92 . Bonnie Blair, in full Bonnie Kathleen Blair, (born March 18, 1964, Cornwall, New York, U.S.), American speed skater who was one of the leading competitors in the sport. She contracted a severe case of bronchitis that affected her breathing. (February 23, 2023). When Bonnie Blair was born on 9 August 1914, in Letcher, Kentucky, United States, her father, William Blair, was 31 and her mother, Delia Pratt, was 35. [3] She participated in her first skating meet at age 4. Blair has also been involved in the American Brain Tumor Association's efforts to combat this little-understood disease; in 1987, Blair's brother Rob was diagnosed with brain cancer that was deemed terminal. [7][39] Less than a month after Lillehammer Olympics, Blair set another world record in the 500 meters, becoming the first female to complete the race in under 39 seconds, achieving a time of 38.99 seconds. In 1986, Blair set her first world's record in the 500 meters. [5]:45 Blair also began to pick-up more endorsements, including sports marketing group Advantage International. Phillips, Angus. "The kids eat cereal on top of it," she told Parrish, "but it's got a heavy top, so nothing gets underneath." places to practice were in Europe. Of the six, five were gold, making Blair the only American woman to ever win five gold medals in the games. She and Apolo Anton Ohno are both world-famous speed skaters. The Champaign police department sponsored a campaign to support "Champaign Policemen's Favorite Speeder," raising $7,000 for Blair so that she could move to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and practice there with other competitive skaters. Bonnie Blair. Blair later credited her husband's continuing involvement in the sport with helping her to make the transition from competition to civilian life. [11] Her time was only 0.02 seconds faster than Ye. Recognized as one of track and field history's most accomplished sprinters, Evelyn Ashford is, Moses, Edwin 1955 In 1979 she began training with Cathy Priestner, a Canadian speed skater who had won a silver medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics. She and her husband, fellow speed skater Dave Cruikshank, made their home in Milwaukee, and Blair kept up a heavy travel schedule, flying to different cities around the country to meet various corporate endorsement obligations. Blair won events at 1984, 1985 and 1986 short-track world championships and was the 1986 overall short-track world champion. Blair trained every morning before school and her discipline paid off; at age fifteen she qualified for the U.S. Olympic trials, but narrowly missed making the team. Notable Sports Figures. [19] Blair held a world record at 500 meters until December 1987 when Christa Rothenburger beat her time at the World Cup. [11] Blair had not been not considered a front-runner and later recalled she was happy just to be at the games and see her family in the stands. Parker, Bonnie (1910-1934). [34] Blair felt as though she had lost her quickness and after failing to rectify the problem with coach Peter Mueller, she switched to Nick Thometz. They are: dedication, balance, risk, and love. There she won two more gold medals, for both the 500-meter and the 1,000-meter races. And, as she told Barbara Matson in the Boston Globe, "Crossing that [finish] line was the happiest moment of my life.". Bonnie Blair Olympic Legend - Part 9 - Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Film | Olympic History 22,552 views Jan 7, 2015 99 Dislike Save Olympics 9.04M subscribers Subscribe to @olympics:.