LAKE PLACID, N.Y. - Eric Heiden had planned to spend the night of February 22 resting up for the 10,000-meter speed skating event the next day. He needed the rest, too, having competed in each of the first four speed skating competitions at the 1980 Winter Olympics. The 10,000 meter race - about 6.2 miles - was by far the most grueling of the speed skating events, so he would be competing in the most physically demanding of the races after competing in four other ones in the previous eight days.
Plus, he had won all four events, so a victory in the 10,000 would give him an unprecedented sweep of the speed skating events and make him the first man to win five gold medals in a single Winter Olympics. Chasing history, and facing the most physically demanding of the races he would enter, Heiden should have been resting on the 22nd. He planned to be resting.
Then the Miracle on Ice happened, and all those plans went out the window. Heiden instead spent the night like so many other Americans did - cheering and celebrating all night. And really, who can blame him? Who would want to miss that party?
And so that is how Heiden showed up for the biggest race of his life tired and a little bit hung over, hoping to do just well enough to win his fifth gold.
Maybe all that partying was good for him. Or maybe his other competitors were Americans for a day the night before, also joining the celebration. Or maybe Heiden was just that good. Whatever the reason, he quickly and effortlessly turned the 10,000 into a runaway. Wearing his famous gold body suit, Heiden won without a challenge, beating silver medalist Piet Kleine by eight seconds and annihilating the world record, as well.
Heiden's strive for five gold medals made him the most popular individual athlete at the 1980 games. Though his story got overshadowed a bit by the Miraculous hockey team, his eight days in 1980 still rank as among the most impressive in Olympic history
Showing posts with label speed skating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label speed skating. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
February 16, 2002: Oh no!
SALT LAKE CITY - It looked like nothing short of controlled chaos. It starts with a few laps of athletes skating in a line, getting their bearings. Then the speed picked up, the skaters in back looking for opportunities to pass. Then the final few laps, with passing and crashing and slipping and reaching. It was stunning.
Short track speed skating was introduced as a full-time Olympic sport in the 1992 games, but they started to gain a larger audience in the 2002 games in Salt Lake City. The sport was perfect for television, featuring athletes competing against each other rather than against the clock, and featuring high-speed passing and shocking collisions. It seemed like it was a perfect spectator sport.
One of the races that best exemplified the chaos that is short track skating was the 1,000 meter final on February 16, 2002. American Apolo Anton Ohno, perhaps the man most responsible for helping the sport grow in popularity in these Olympics, had made the final and appeared to be in good position as the skaters closed in on the finish. The race had everything that makes the sport so exhiliarating: smooth skating, building tension, an exciting finish. Oh, and a spectacular crash.
Ohno was skating near the front on the final lap with South Korea's Ahn Hyun-Soo and China's Li Jiajun when Li tried to pass on the inside. Li caught an edge and went down, taking out Ahn, Ohno, and Canadian Mathieu Turcotte with him. With the top four contenders sprawled on the ice, Australia's Steven Bradbury came home clean with a shocking gold medal. Meanwhile, in one of the lasting images in the sport, Ohno got up and scrambled toward the finish line, swinging his skate across the line just ahead of Turcotte to somehow claim a silver medal.
Americans unfamiliar with the sport were shocked and angry that Ohno lost a gold medal because of another skater's actions, not quite realizing that this was just a part of the sport. It helped when Ohno got a little bit of retribution later in the 1,500 meter event, winning the gold after first-place finisher Kim Dong-Sung was disqualified for blocking him. The judges' decision against Kim outraged many South Koreans, many of whom still dislike Ohno to this day.
Whether it's because of his popularity in America or his infamy in South Korea, Ohno is one of the most well-known athletes in short-track skating. His scramble across the finish line in 2002 is one of the main reasons why.
Short track speed skating was introduced as a full-time Olympic sport in the 1992 games, but they started to gain a larger audience in the 2002 games in Salt Lake City. The sport was perfect for television, featuring athletes competing against each other rather than against the clock, and featuring high-speed passing and shocking collisions. It seemed like it was a perfect spectator sport.
One of the races that best exemplified the chaos that is short track skating was the 1,000 meter final on February 16, 2002. American Apolo Anton Ohno, perhaps the man most responsible for helping the sport grow in popularity in these Olympics, had made the final and appeared to be in good position as the skaters closed in on the finish. The race had everything that makes the sport so exhiliarating: smooth skating, building tension, an exciting finish. Oh, and a spectacular crash.
Ohno was skating near the front on the final lap with South Korea's Ahn Hyun-Soo and China's Li Jiajun when Li tried to pass on the inside. Li caught an edge and went down, taking out Ahn, Ohno, and Canadian Mathieu Turcotte with him. With the top four contenders sprawled on the ice, Australia's Steven Bradbury came home clean with a shocking gold medal. Meanwhile, in one of the lasting images in the sport, Ohno got up and scrambled toward the finish line, swinging his skate across the line just ahead of Turcotte to somehow claim a silver medal.
Americans unfamiliar with the sport were shocked and angry that Ohno lost a gold medal because of another skater's actions, not quite realizing that this was just a part of the sport. It helped when Ohno got a little bit of retribution later in the 1,500 meter event, winning the gold after first-place finisher Kim Dong-Sung was disqualified for blocking him. The judges' decision against Kim outraged many South Koreans, many of whom still dislike Ohno to this day.
Whether it's because of his popularity in America or his infamy in South Korea, Ohno is one of the most well-known athletes in short-track skating. His scramble across the finish line in 2002 is one of the main reasons why.
Monday, February 14, 2011
February 14, 1988: Agony
CALGARY, Alberta - Hours before competing in the 500-meter speed skating event at the 1988 Winter Olympics, Dan Jansen had a phone conversation with his sister Jane. It was a poignant, personal conversation, one that inspired Jansen to do anything he could to win. Because, it turned out, it was the last conversation the brother and sister had with each other, as his sister died of leukemia shortly afterward.
He was the overwhelming favorite in the event, and he had the added inspiration of skating for the memory of his sister. Everything pointed to Dan Jansen becoming the feel-good story of the Calgary Olympics.
So what was he doing crashing into the wall?
Jansen's wipeout a mere eight seconds into his 500-meter race was one of the most heartbreaking slips in Olympic history. Here, it seemed that an inspiration story was ready for its final, courageous chapter to be written. Instead, it turned into devastation. Americans collectively screamed "no!" as Jansen hit the ice, then watched as the agony hit his face. Sitting on the ice, his head in his hands, Jansen was the picture of disappointment. Pure agony.
In time, Jansen became a tragic figure in speed skating. Three days later, he was on a world-record pace in the 1,000 meters when he again slipped and fell, this time 600 meters into the race, and again failed to finish. His next chance at Olympic glory came in 1992, and again he fell short. In 1994, he again failed to medal in the 500 meters, leaving him with one last Olympic race for a chance to get any medals. This time, he came through, winning the gold in the 1,000 meters. Finally vindicated, he skated a victory lap with his daughter, Jane, and everybody could finally forget about 1988.
He was the overwhelming favorite in the event, and he had the added inspiration of skating for the memory of his sister. Everything pointed to Dan Jansen becoming the feel-good story of the Calgary Olympics.
So what was he doing crashing into the wall?
Jansen's wipeout a mere eight seconds into his 500-meter race was one of the most heartbreaking slips in Olympic history. Here, it seemed that an inspiration story was ready for its final, courageous chapter to be written. Instead, it turned into devastation. Americans collectively screamed "no!" as Jansen hit the ice, then watched as the agony hit his face. Sitting on the ice, his head in his hands, Jansen was the picture of disappointment. Pure agony.
In time, Jansen became a tragic figure in speed skating. Three days later, he was on a world-record pace in the 1,000 meters when he again slipped and fell, this time 600 meters into the race, and again failed to finish. His next chance at Olympic glory came in 1992, and again he fell short. In 1994, he again failed to medal in the 500 meters, leaving him with one last Olympic race for a chance to get any medals. This time, he came through, winning the gold in the 1,000 meters. Finally vindicated, he skated a victory lap with his daughter, Jane, and everybody could finally forget about 1988.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
February 5, 1932: Three generations
UPDATE: This event has been replaced. See the new entry here.
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. - The speed skating competition at the 1932 Winter Olympics was unique among Olympiads because of its format. Instead of competing in heats like speed skating was normally done, all competitors were on the track at the same time - think of today's short-track speed skating. It's the only time in Olympic history this was tried in long-track speed skating.
Another thing that stands out for the speed skating in 1932 was American dominance. American men won all four gold medals in speed skating on their home ice, and while speed skating was only a demonstration sport for women in 1932, American women finished first in two of the three events.
On February 5, 1932, Jack Shea made history by becoming the first American to win two gold medals in the same Winter Olympics when he added the 500-meter gold to the 1,500-meter one he had already won. Shea was first only by a matter of scheduling, as fellow American Irving Jaffee won gold in both the 5,000- and 10,000-meter skating events.
Shea's biggest impact to the Olympics came years later, though. In 1964, Jack's son Jim competed in the cross-country and Nordic combined skiing events at the Olympics, and then in 2002, Jim Jr., son of Jim and grandson of Jack, competed in the skeleton at the Salt Lake City games. With Jim Jr.'s success, the Sheas became the first family to have three generations of Olympic athletes. While Jack was able to participate in the torch relay leading up to the 2002 games, he was killed in a car accident just 17 days before his grandson could compete. Jim Jr. honored his grandfather's memory, though, winning a gold medal 70 years after his grandpa had won two.
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. - The speed skating competition at the 1932 Winter Olympics was unique among Olympiads because of its format. Instead of competing in heats like speed skating was normally done, all competitors were on the track at the same time - think of today's short-track speed skating. It's the only time in Olympic history this was tried in long-track speed skating.
Another thing that stands out for the speed skating in 1932 was American dominance. American men won all four gold medals in speed skating on their home ice, and while speed skating was only a demonstration sport for women in 1932, American women finished first in two of the three events.
On February 5, 1932, Jack Shea made history by becoming the first American to win two gold medals in the same Winter Olympics when he added the 500-meter gold to the 1,500-meter one he had already won. Shea was first only by a matter of scheduling, as fellow American Irving Jaffee won gold in both the 5,000- and 10,000-meter skating events.
Shea's biggest impact to the Olympics came years later, though. In 1964, Jack's son Jim competed in the cross-country and Nordic combined skiing events at the Olympics, and then in 2002, Jim Jr., son of Jim and grandson of Jack, competed in the skeleton at the Salt Lake City games. With Jim Jr.'s success, the Sheas became the first family to have three generations of Olympic athletes. While Jack was able to participate in the torch relay leading up to the 2002 games, he was killed in a car accident just 17 days before his grandson could compete. Jim Jr. honored his grandfather's memory, though, winning a gold medal 70 years after his grandpa had won two.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
January 26, 1924: Winter gold
CHAMONIX, France - For a few years, events like figure skating and ice hockey were held during the Summer Olympics. It was an awkward setup, and though the medals awarded in those events were considered legitimate, the organizers of those sports wanted a more prominient showcase for their events.
In 1924, the French Olympic Committee organized International Winter Sports Week, to be held the same year as the Summer Olympics. Taking place in Chamonix, at the foot of Mont Blanc, the competition allowed sports such as figure skating, speed skating, hockey, and skiing to have their moment of glory in a more natural setting.
Though they weren't referred to at the time as such, these events came to be known retroactively as the first Winter Olympic Games. As such, many Olympic firsts were set during this week in France.
And as for the very first winter Olympic gold medal? That honor went to Charles Jewtraw of the United States, who won gold in the 500 meter speed skating event, the first event held at Chamonix. The gold Jewtraw won was the only medal he won in his Olympic career and was the only American gold medal at the Chamonix games. In fact, he was the only man from outside Scandinavia to win a medal of any color in speed skating in the first two Olympics.
In 1924, the French Olympic Committee organized International Winter Sports Week, to be held the same year as the Summer Olympics. Taking place in Chamonix, at the foot of Mont Blanc, the competition allowed sports such as figure skating, speed skating, hockey, and skiing to have their moment of glory in a more natural setting.
Though they weren't referred to at the time as such, these events came to be known retroactively as the first Winter Olympic Games. As such, many Olympic firsts were set during this week in France.
And as for the very first winter Olympic gold medal? That honor went to Charles Jewtraw of the United States, who won gold in the 500 meter speed skating event, the first event held at Chamonix. The gold Jewtraw won was the only medal he won in his Olympic career and was the only American gold medal at the Chamonix games. In fact, he was the only man from outside Scandinavia to win a medal of any color in speed skating in the first two Olympics.
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