American Stock/Getty Images. Bonnie was born March 18, 1964. [12][13] She failed to medal and finished eighth in the 500 meters. [29] After placing fourth at U.S. Nationals and missing the opportunity to compete at the World Championships, Blair opted to give up competitive cycling and focus solely on speed skating. She also set a record in the 1000 meters with a time of 1:19.3. Bonnie Blair is a retired American speed skater who was one of the leading competitors in the sport. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Blair knew how to win and took advantage of it. 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. Bonnie Blairwas raised in Champaign, Illinois. The coaching switch took place ten months before the 1992 Olympics. Blair wanted to continue to train for the 1984 Olympics and beyond, but had problems getting funding for her training. Still Blair changed her training a bit. This allowed Blair to train seriously, including one stint with the U.S. men's speed skating team in Butte, Montana. "Time after time." [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. The estimated speaking fee range to book Bonnie Blair for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. She knows just a thing or two about U.S. speed skating and the rise of women's sports. Bonnie Kathleen Blair (born March 18, 1964) is a retired American speed skater. She is one of the top skaters of her era, and one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history. Janofsky, Michael. [2][25] For her second event of the games, Blair had a personal best and briefly set an Olympic record in the 1,000 meters. Denver Rocky Mountain News (February 15, 2002): 23S. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. ." 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. 18 March 1964 in Cornwall, New York), speed skater who dominated the sport between 1986 and 1995, winning five gold medals in three consecutive Winter Olympics. She was the daughter of Charlie and Eleanor Blair, who raised their large Catholic family in Champaign, Illinois. In fact, Charlie Blair had his children at a competition while his youngest child was being born. Bonnie Kathleen Blair (born March 18, 1964) is a retired American speedskater. . Her death was announced in a statement that. "Blair has not Slowed Down: Family is her Life, Not Speed skating." St. 23 Feb. 2023 . Bonnie Blair was born on 18 March, 1964 in Cornwall, New York, United States, is an American speed skater. "Blair Enjoys Being Olympic Spectator." She also tried her hand at gymnastics for a while. . Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Notable Sports Figures. Blair has also become an accomplished motivational speaker, addressing audiences on such topics as "Achieving Your Personal Best." 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. Then she went out and bettered Rothenburger's time by two hundredths of a second to win her first gold medal. [36], The 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, were another success for Blair: She again won gold in the 500 meters (39.25) and 1,000 meters (1:18.74)[35] races. [2][25] Blair's third and final event of the 1988 Winter Olympics was the 1,500 meters, in which she placed fourth. [16] Blair won both the 500 meter and 1500 meter at the West Allis event, and was considered one of the U.S. team's strongest medal contenders. 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. [28], Following the 1988 Olympics, Blair also tried track cycle racing, and was coached by former speed skater and cycling world champion Connie Paraskevin. There she won two more gold medals, for both the 500-meter and the 1,000-meter races. To win the 500-meter event, Blair beat Chinese skater Ye Qiaobo by 18 hundredths of a second. Bonnie E Blair of Texas was born c. 1944. See also Alexander Wolff, "Bonnie's Bounty: Unassuming Bonnie Blair Sped to Victory in 1,000 Meters to Become the U.S.'s Most Gilded Woman Olympian Ever," Sports Illustrated (7 Mar. 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. Showing Editorial results for bonnie blair. She made her competitive cycling debut in June 1989 at the Sundance Juice Sparkler Grand Prix. Instead, she skated vicariously through her husband, who competed in international events. [28] Blair was back to competing later in the season and won the 1989 World Sprint Championships held in Heerenveen, Netherlands. In fact, Charlie Blair had his children at a competition while his youngest child was being born. But Blair is going out on top." (The International Olympic Committee wanted Summer and Winter Olympic Games to alternate every two years.) Dec 6, 2013. There she won her first Olympic gold medal in the 500 meters and a bronze medal in the 1,000 meter. Bonnie (Blair) Roos. She did some television commentary for speed skating. Paavo Nurmi (1897-1973) was one of the greatest distance runners of all time. "Blair, Bonnie 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. A year later she captured her first World Short-Track Championship by winning three of the four events. Overall, Blair won 4 of 18 women's medals at the 1987 World Cup; East German skaters, including Rothenburger, won 13. . She was 16 years old when she began Olympic-style racing, which pits only two racers against each other in a competition based on time. Facing a Big Chill in Her Sport," Sports Illustrated (27 Feb. 1995). Time (March 7, 1988): 69. ." 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. [50] The pair married in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1996. "One-woman ice show." This victory was bittersweet for Blair, since she knew it was to be the last Olympics in which she would compete. She counts herself lucky in being able to maintain such an active retirement, noting that not all Olympic gold medalists have been as fortunate. Encyclopedia of World Biography. "Blades of gold." Place of Burial: Paintsville, Johnson, Kentucky, United States. [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's last year as a competitive speed skater was 1995. Blair competed for the United States in four Olympics, winning five gold medals and one bronze medal. Professionally, Charlie Blair was an engineer while Eleanor Blair worked in real estate. (She finished fourth in the 1500 meter race.) Veteran entertainer, TV presenter and dancer Lionel Blair has died aged 92, his agent has said. She was considered the best American hope for a medal, and did not disappoint. American speed skater Bonnie Blairwas born on the 18 March 1953in Cornwall, New Yorkto Eleanor and Charlie Blair. Following her retirement from competitive skating, Blair remained extremely active, both in her sport and outside of it. By the time Blair was fifteen, she decided to make speed skating her sole sport, training in a vigilant and dedicated fashion. It was another first for a female athleteno other woman had ever won five Olympic gold medals for individual events. "I just thought it was the right time," she said of her retirement to 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. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bonnie-Blair, Bonnie Blair - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). [26] At her post race press conference, Blair confirmed Lillehammer would be her last Olympic games.[38]. 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. With a new world record of 39.1 seconds, Blair became the first American woman since 1976 to win a gold medal in speed skating. Wolff, Alexander. ." 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. In December, Blair Cruikshank competed at the USA Speedskating Long Track National Championships in Utah. Blair was touched by the adulations of the crowd, saying that she had never heard any group of spectators cheer so hard for her. On 23 June 1996 she married Dave Cruikshank, a fellow speed skater on the U.S. Olympic 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. Blair dedicated her successes in Albertville to the memory of her father, who had died on Christmas Day 1989. 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. [17], During this time, Blair trained in both short-track and long-track. Her stellar performance at the 1992 Olympics also earned Blair the Sullivan Award as the Best Amateur Athlete in the United States. Bonnie Blair, 92, of Dawson Springs, KY, died Friday, January 9, 2004, at 7:13 A.M., at her residence. It was the first time a woman had won two Olympic gold medals for the 500-meter event in two successive Winter Olympics. She agreed to go, but she lacked the backing to finance the trip. . She went to work coaching the U.S. women's speed skating team, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. [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, 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. Blair's athletic achievements, combined with her friendly, down-to-earth manner, earned her recognition from journalists as an "All-American girl." Sporting News (February 14, 1994): S15. [1][3] Already a hobby for her siblings, Bonnie first tried skating at age two. [48][49], Blair began dating fellow Olympic speed skater Dave Cruikshank in 1990. "To mettle the medal." For her success, Blair was named the Babe Zaharis Female Amateur Athlete of the Year and sportswoman of the Year by Sports Illustrated for 1994. 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:. The Life Summary of Bonnie. She first gained acclaim by winning the world short-track title in 1986 at Chamonix, France. . Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. Born in Cornwall, New York on March 18, 1964 as the youngest of six children, her family moved to Champaign, Illinois and Bonnie first donned skates at the age of two and was competing as a speed skater by the age of four. Blair won her fourth career gold medal with a . They have two children. Bonnie was something of an afterthought in the Blair family scheme, coming 21 years after Chuck, the Blairs' first child, and seven years after Angela, their fifth. 12. Bonnie Blair. Many athletes wait too long, until their skills have begun to melt and slide like snow from a roof.
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