[51][52] Grant Cruikshank played hockey at Colorado College and as of 2021 for the University of Minnesota. Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in Cornwall, New York, the youngest of six children. She graduated from Centennial High School, and later took some courses at Parkland Junior College in Champaign. Before American speed skaters Eric Heiden and Bonnie Blair raced to fame as Olympic champions, Soviet sp, Ashford, Evelyn Who are Scott disick parents? While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Bonnie Blair. She won the 1989 World Championship, setting a new world record in the overall event; finished second in 1990; and placed fifth in 1991, her worst finish in six years. At the beginning of the 2002 Winter Olympics, Blair again took the spotlight when she became the last torchbearer on the Wisconsin segment of the Olympic torch run in January. As a teenager Blair began to take the sport more seriously. Having gained five gold medals and one bronze medal in three Olympic Games, Blair became the most decorated female Winter Olympian in U.S. history. Dec 6, 2013. Bonnie Kathleen Blair (born March 18, 1964) is a retired American speed skater. 9 August 1914-21 December 1983 (Age 69) Letcher, Kentucky, United States. 12. I love to go fast and create the wind. Blair was also the first American speed skater to win in more than one Olympic Games (1988, 1992, and 1994). Bonnie worked at the Sleezer Home in Freeport until retirement in 2016. She continued to compete in part because there were only two years between these Olympic Games. When Blair returned to the United States, she increased the intensity of her training, including weight training, running, biking, and rollerblading in addition to skating. Rushin, Steve. [2] Blair's family friends in the stands, affectionately known as the "Blair Bunch," became a staple of her competitive career. "Bonnie Blair," HickokSports.com, http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/blairbon.shtml (March 10, 2003). [39][8] There, Blair won the 500 meters with a time of 39.54 seconds. Bonnie Blair Cruikshank. 23 Feb. 2023 . [28] At the event, Blair won the 500 meters twice and finished third and second in two 100 meters races for an overall victory. Bonnie Kathleen Blair is the most decorated woman in Winter Olympic history. (She finished fourth in the 1500 meter race.) Newsday (February 6, 1994): 16. 1958- Brownlee, Shannon. After retiring from skating, Blair had two children (son Grant and daughter Blair), worked as a motivational speaker, and wrote a book about her accomplishments, A Winning Edge (1996). Bonnie Parker was born on October 1, 1910. She hired a different coach, Nick Thometz, who emphasized something different for Blair: explosive drills over strength and distance training. Born in Philadelphia, she was the youngest of six children. When the 1994 Winter Olympics at Lillehammer, Norway, came around, Blair was again favored to win. Known as "The Flying Finn" and "The King of Runners," he do, Bonnie and Clyde (Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow), Bonnevault, Pierre (ca. Notable Sports Figures. American speed skater Bonnie Blairwas born on the 18 March 1953in Cornwall, New Yorkto Eleanor and Charlie Blair. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. She also took these titles in 1995. She signed with Advantage International, a sports marketing group, and did a number of commercials endorsements including Jeep, Evian, National Frozen Foods, and Rollerblades. She was the daughter of Charlie and Eleanor Blair, who raised their large Catholic family in Champaign, Illinois. She has also made television commercials for such major corporations as McDonald's and AT&T. Her life has been a furious blur of flashing blades,. That is, races that were conducted with a number of skaters competing against each other in a pack. New York Times (February 9, 1987): 166. Edwin Mosess athletic achievement is extraordinary by any standards. [15], A strong performance at the United States International Skating Association Metric All-Around Championships, held in West Allis, Wisconsin, earned Blair a spot on the U.S. long track women's sprint team for the 1985 World Championships. (With Greg Brown) A Winning Edge, Taylor, 1996. Blair's European trip had the desired effect, sharpening her skills for more competition. Speed skater Eric Heiden won five gold medals in the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York. Bonnie Blair Blair returned to the Olympics in 1988 competing in long-track at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. Bonnie graduated from Warren High School in 1969. In addition to her ongoing endorsement commitments, Blair serves as a sports commentator on the ABC television network and sits on the board of directors of the U.S. speed skating team. 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 speed skater American track and field athlete She achieved personal bests in all four of her events and recorded the fastest time of any junior in three of them. Her total of six Olympic medals (five gold and a bronze) also made her the most successful American Winter Olympian in history. By the time she was in grade school, speed skating had become her number-one leisure activity. Her husband, Dave Cruikshank, was also a speed skater and she served as his technical consultant. Bonnie Parker, outlaw partner of Clyde Barrow, was born at Rowena, Texas, on October 1, 1910, to Henry and Emma Parker. [2][4] She completed her high school diploma through the mail in 1982. In the 500-meter race she won her first gold medal, defeating the defending champion by .02 seconds and setting a new world record in the process. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 6, 2002; February 18, 2002. Also learn how She earned most of networth at the age of 56 years old? Their names are Jeff and Bonnie.. How many siblings does. Blair lost focus for a while after the death of her father on December 25, 1989. Four days later, she took the gold in the 1,000-meter race, winning by just two one-hundredths of a second. She won gold at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. . Blair competed for the United States in four Olympics, winning five gold medals and one bronze medal. Blair continued to have success on the international level, though she also challenged herself to find ways to win. "To mettle the medal." Chambers, 1997. It's just you.". Following her retirement from competitive skating, Blair remained extremely active, both in her sport and outside of it. . She repeated her victories in both 500m and 1000m speed. She is one of the top skaters of her era, and one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history. Encyclopedia.com. Wife of William Edgar Blair. Facing a Big Chill in Her Sport," Sports Illustrated (27 Feb. 1995). She is one of the top skaters of her era, and one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history. 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 was the daughter of Charlie and Eleanor Blair, who raised their large Catholic family in Champaign, Illinois. Russian speed skater "Introspective Blair Rebuffs Outside World in Pursuit of Gold." The trials were a breeze for her. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures, Skoblikova, Lydia Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. So far, this channel has garnered over 758.4 million views and more than 1.35 million subscribers. But while skating eventually. [32], Her success in the 1992 Olympics led to more attention for Blair. Also, Jack Sikma, a team. Her death was announced in a statement that. New York Times (February 19, 1995): section 8, p. 1. After the 1994 Olympics, Blair received more honors and product endorsement offers. The, Parra, Derek: 1970: Athlete ." She also began serving on the board for U.S. 1939- Team", "Winter Olympics: Calgary: BLAIR WITH HER: U.S.'s Leading Skater Hopes She's Worth Her Weight in Gold", "Winter Olympics: In Flash of a Skate, Blair Wins the Gold, Sets Record in 500", "GOLD: Blair has decade of Olympic thoughts to remember", "No Endorsement Windfall Seen For The Stars Of Calgary Games", "Sports World Specials: Cycling: A Smooth-as-Ice Switch", "The Olympics Winter Games at Albertville: Blair Is Golden for 500 Meters: Speedskating: In a popular victory, she becomes the first woman to win the event in consecutive Olympics", "Blair Wins Second Gold by a Skate: Speedskating: She beats Ye by 0.02 seconds to become most decorated U.S. woman in Winter Olympics history", "SPEEDSKATING: Blair Pushes Herself to Two Records", "ESPN Classic - Blair marches to record fifth gold medal", "Blair earns high five in Olympic farewell LIillehammer '94", "How speed skaters and Right to Play are inspiring kids around the world", "New Blair on big oval: Bonnie's daughter is a speedskater", "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement", "Notable US Olympic Hall of Fame inductees", "Bonnie Blair Cruikshank paints star on Flag of Hope", "Cover Story: Weddings of the Year Vol. When she was attending Centennial High School, she competed in track and field events, including 100 meter to 800 meter races, long jump, and triple jump. Serendipitously, Milwaukee opened a new indoor skating rink in 1992, allowing her to train there all year. Blair also won gold in the 1000 meter race. All of Blair's two sisters and three brothers speed skated competitively because of their father. Encyclopedia.com. Encyclopedia.com. World class track-and-field athlete (February 23, 2023). Encased in a glass tabletop in her house, Blair's gold medals have become part of her daily landscape. Parker, Bonnie (1910-1934). (The International Olympic Committee wanted Summer and Winter Olympic Games to alternate every two years.) Facebook gives people the power to. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. Sports Illustrated (January 15, 1990): 92. private siblings' names; private children's names (1) spouse's name and marriage information; Blair first donned skates at the age of two, and was competing as a speed skater by the age of four. Time (March 7, 1988): 69. American Stock/Getty Images. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. She contracted a severe case of bronchitis that affected her breathing. Born December 29, 1911, in Hopkins County, KY, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Monroe Dockery and Thurman Fox Dockery. She was raised in Illinois, but she moved to Milwaukee to further her speed-skating career. After the games ended, she received a number of commercial endorsements that funded her training, including Disney World and other commercials, though these opportunities were not as numerous or long-lived as originally hoped. Bonnie Kathleen Blair (born March 18, 1964) is a retired American speed skater. Blair competed for the United States in four Olympics, and in her Olympic career won five gold medals and one bronze medal. ." Still Blair changed her training a bit. ." Blair won events at 1984, 1985 and 1986 short-track world championships and was the 1986 overall short-track world champion. Blair later credited her husband's continuing involvement in the sport with helping her to make the transition from competition to civilian life. and its Licensors She was the daughter of Charlie and Eleanor Blair, who raised their large Catholic family in Champaign, Illinois. Blair competed for the United States in four Olympics, winning five gold medals and one bronze medal. Sports Illustrated (March 6, 1989): 32. 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. Looney, Douglas S. "Bring back Bonnie." It was an expensive undertaking, but with the help of her family, friends, and money from the Champaign police department, Blair was able to go. She has been inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame, the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, and the United States Olympic Hall of Fame. [11] Her time was only 0.02 seconds faster than Ye. After the turn of the twenty-first century, Blair still found herself involved in speed skating, even though she no longer competed. Time (February 24, 1992): 54. People Photos Purpose. She has been married to Dave Cruikshank since June 23, 1996. Rushin, Steve. [48][49], Blair began dating fellow Olympic speed skater Dave Cruikshank in 1990. 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. Nobody makes you do it. Her father, a bricklayer, died in 1914, and Emma Parker moved the family to "Cement City" in West Dallas to live closer to . She was considered the best American hope for a medal, and did not disappoint. Phillips, Angus. Her retirement from the sport, however, created a void in the talent pool of U.S. speed skaters that would be felt in the years to come. Blair continued competing through 1995 when the World Championships were held in Milwaukee, finally retiring in March 1995. Father's influence Anthony Charles Lynton Blair was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on May 6, 1953. "History (Never) Lessens: Bonnie Blair was textbook good, and her legacy still is quoted chapter and verse." [20] Blair also proved she could beat East-German world champion Karin Enke-Kania in head-to-head match-ups. She ran wherever her coach decided he was missing a bodyon the long jump, high jump, short distances, and relays. [8] Blair took classes at Parkland College, although college classes were less of a priority than training and she did not receive a degree. At the Olympic Games, Blair had the support of her family, the so-called "Blair Bunch" which consisted of immediate and extended family members who attended a number of her more important races en masse. places to practice were in Europe. From early in her career, Blair's father was convinced that she would win Olympic Gold. Blairs greatest success came at the Olympics, though she started slowly. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. 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. Noden, Merrell. [20] Blair continued on to the 1995 World Championships in her adopted home town of Milwaukee. Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in Cornwall, New York, the youngest of six children. Bonnie Blair was born in Cornwall, NY on March 18, 1964. Sporting News (February 14, 1994): S15. Wolff, Alexander. Priestner had been a speed skater since her teen years, winning a national championship within a year of taking up the sport. Bonnie Kathleen Blair It's fun to set goals, reach goals, reset goals. Bonnie Blair At the time, Blair worked as the secretary of the Retail Clerks International Union, which has since become part of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1529. "Bonnie's bounty." There she won her first Olympic gold medal in the 500 meters and a bronze medal in the 1,000 meter. Winning doesn't always mean being first. With the oval in Milwaukee closed in the off-season, the best Mary Blair was 19 when her youngest sibling, Bonnie, was born. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. ." At fifteen, Blair was named to the U.S. speed skating team. 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 . Blair knew how to win and took advantage of it. Blair won two gold medals in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville and her final two Olympic gold medals at the 1994 Lillehammer games. "Bonnie Blair Speed skater who won Olympic gold medals in 1988, 1992, and 1994. Blair entered the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, Canada, as a veteran of hundreds of races, a world record holder, and the favorite to win the 500-meter event. (b. After a decade in the broadcast booth working as a commentator for the Olympics for the CBC and CTV, Priestner later became associated with the Olympics as a member of the organizing committee for the Calgary games in 1988, Salt Lake City in 2002, and Turin, Italy in 2006. Parrish, Paula. In 1989, she won the World Sprint Championships, though she did not train as hard as she had for the Olympics. After being born in Cornwall, N.Y., Blair moved with her family to the Midwest and was raised in Champaign, Ill. She took to speed skating like her older siblings. [1] Her godmother is Canadian speed skater Cathy Priestner. [24] Blair responded to the challenge with her best start ever in the 500 meters, winning the gold medal in world record time of 39.10 seconds. Bonnie Blair, 92, of Dawson Springs, KY, died Friday, January 9, 2004, at 7:13 A.M., at her residence. Barrow, who was 20, was a volatile ex-con and a wanted man who had vowed that he would . In Champaign, I'd miss a workout or two. [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. This victory was bittersweet for Blair, since she knew it was to be the last Olympics in which she would compete. Sports Illustrated (February 27, 1995): 52. "Blair, Bonnie Blair's last year as a competitive speed skater was 1995. She agreed to go, but she lacked the backing to finance the trip. Another problem for Blair was the lack of competition among the American women speed skaters in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). She also tried her hand at gymnastics for a while. She was the youngest of six children. 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. Encyclopedia.com. Photos and Memories (0) Do you know Bonnie? 5 What actress portrayed. The only real competition came internationally, but because of her lack of training in 1989-91, she did not have much success in races in 1990-91. Her final, record-breaking time for the 500-meter sprint was 38.99 seconds. 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. International Encyclopedia of Women and Sports. She entered the Winter Games in Albertville, France, as the favorite in both events. She also represented Canada in speed skating in the 1972 games in Sapporo, Japan.