Serendipitously, Milwaukee opened a new indoor skating rink in 1992, allowing her to train there all year. [19] Blair held a world record at 500 meters until December 1987 when Christa Rothenburger beat her time at the World Cup. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. When Blair was sixteen, she competed at her first Olympic trials for the 1980 Winter Olympics. Bonnie Blair C and 7 others. 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.
Wolff, Alexander. After this, at the age of 31, she felt she was ready to retire from competitive skating.
TOP 22 QUOTES BY BONNIE BLAIR | A-Z Quotes She won a number of races as a child, including the Illinois state championship when she was seven. Best. After the 1994 Olympics, Blair continued to compete. (February 23, 2023). Sports Illustrated named Blair their Sportswoman of the Year for 1994. When training in Milwaukee, she enrolled at Parkland College but did not graduate. . [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. Family (1) Spouse Dave Cruikshank (23 June 1996 - present) (2 children) Trivia (4) Inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2004. . [44] https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/blair-bonnie, "Blair, Bonnie At the 1988 Games in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she was a favourite in the sprint events and earned a gold in the 500-metre event and a bronze in the 1,000-metre event.
Bonnie Blair Facts for Kids World class track-and-field athlete "A Bonnie blare." Cycling became part of Blair's speed skating training as both sports utilized the same muscle groups. It's a solitary sport, one in which you can claim all the rewards as your own. Although she was small for a speed skater, Blairs technique was nearly flawless. Noden, Merrell. She contracted a severe case of bronchitis that affected her breathing. [23] U.S. speed skating failure to win a single medal at the 1984 Olympics added to the pressure and attention focused on Blair leading up to the 1988 games. Of the six, five were gold, making Blair the only American woman to ever win five gold medals in the games. Speed skater Bonnie Blair started racing at the age of four and went on to be one of the fastest competitors of her time (via Britannica ).
Bonnie Blair Biography, Age, Height, Husband, Net Worth, Family Corrections? Rushin, Steve. She became the first American woman to win five gold Olympic medals and the first American Winter Olympian to win six career medals. [2] Two of Blair's competitors, who skated after her, subsequently beat her time; thus Blair won the bronze in the 1,000 meters. 2. "Skating first." These dramatic accomplishments earned her the 1992 Sullivan Award as the nation's leading amateur athlete and the 1992 U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) Sportswoman of the Year Award. [26], Despite her success at the 1988 Olympics, Blair did not enjoy a windfall from endorsements. They have two children. (She finished fourth in the 1500 meter race.) Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 6, 2002; February 18, 2002. Blair's last year as a competitive speed skater was 1995. Matson, Barbara. Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in Cornwall, New York, the youngest of six children.
'Your mom is Bonnie Blair!': Junior speedskating champ Blair Cruikshank "Introspective Blair Rebuffs Outside World in Pursuit of Gold." Speed skating and also worked for the Olympic Committee. ." Bonnie Blair. This allowed Blair to train seriously, including one stint with the U.S. men's speed skating team in Butte, Montana. During this last season, she shattered her world record time for the 500-meter sprint twice. Priestner had been a speed skater since her teen years, winning a national championship within a year of taking up the sport. She went to work coaching the U.S. women's speed skating team, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The victories led to more endorsements, and even more important to Blair, the popularity of speed skating. . [2] Blair's family friends in the stands, affectionately known as the "Blair Bunch," became a staple of her competitive career. Recognized as one of track and field history's most accomplished sprinters, Evelyn Ashford is, Moses, Edwin 1955 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. She would win this championship every year through 1994. All Rights Reserved (February 23, 2023). "Blades of gold." Occupation Singer Family Father - David Glyndwr Hopkins Mother - Elsie Hopkins 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. Bonnie Blair, 68 passed away unexpectedly at her home on Thursday Oct 24,2019. Blair came from a family of avid skaters and began entering races when she was four years old. But while skating eventually. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. All of Blair's two sisters and three brothers speed skated competitively because of their father. Bonnie Kathleen Blair (born March 18, 1964) is a retired American speed skater. 1. 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. Bonnie Parker, outlaw partner of Clyde Barrow, was born at Rowena, Texas, on October 1, 1910, to Henry and Emma Parker. In 1979 she began training with Cathy Priestner, a Canadian speed skater who had won a silver medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics. Bonnie Kathleen Blair When the 1994 Winter Olympics at Lillehammer, Norway, came around, Blair was again favored to win. She won gold at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary.
5x Olympic gold medalist Bonnie Blair Cruikshank trains the next - WMTV 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. The coaching switch took place ten months before the 1992 Olympics. To celebrate, she climbed into the stands, still wearing her skates, to hug her family and friends. She received help from the local Champaign community. Blair continued to serve on the board for U.S. "Bonnie Blair," HickokSports.com, http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/blairbon.shtml (March 10, 2003). Speed skater who won Olympic gold medals in 1988, 1992, and 1994. Place of Burial: Paintsville, Johnson, Kentucky, United States. 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. (With Greg Brown) A Winning Edge, Taylor, 1996. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. Johnson, Anne Janette. She began training with Cathy Priestner, who had won a silver medal in speed skating for Canada in the 1976 games, at the University of Illinois rink. 1958- Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.
Tony Blair Biography - family, children, history, wife, school, young "Blair, Bonnie In 1989, she won the World Sprint Championships, though she did not train as hard as she had for the Olympics. Bonnie Parker has 2 siblings, a brother, and a sister. In 2021, Blair spoke out in opposition to allowing male-to-female transgender athletes to participate in organized athletics.[54]. Petruso, A. As Blair approached the final 400 meters, Mueller gave the signal. After the Olympics, Blair continued her education, studying physical education at Montana Tech University. Looney, Douglas S. "Bring back Bonnie."
Bonnie Blair Profiles | Facebook 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). She was the most decorated Winter Olympian in U.S. history when she retired in 1995. On 23 June 1996 she married Dave Cruikshank, a fellow speed skater on the U.S. Olympic Blair would in later years recall that first Olympic gold medal victory as the high point of her career. Encyclopedia.com. Heather McCabe in the Houston Chronicle. "Bonnie's bounty." Longman, Jere. I don't see any torture in this at all.". 5 What actress portrayed. At fifteen, Blair was named to the U.S. speed skating team.
With family members and dozens of friends, teammates, and fans cheering her on, Blair made her best start ever and zipped through the course in 39.1 seconds, setting a new world record and winning the gold medal.
bonnie blair siblings By the time she was in grade school, speed skating had become her number-one leisure activity. Updates? She was the youngest of six children, all of whom learned to skate at an early age. Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in Cornwall, New York, the youngest of six children. "Glory and gloom." "Whooosh!." Omissions? 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. 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. Bonnie Kathleen Blair is the most decorated woman in Winter Olympic history. Bonnie Hoellein - Net Worth 2023. Blair's athletic achievements, combined with her friendly, down-to-earth manner, earned her recognition from journalists as an "All-American girl." [7], She is a member of the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame and the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. Janofsky, Michael. A year later she captured her first World Short-Track Championship by winning three of the four events. Blairs greatest success came at the Olympics, though she started slowly. Blair told Shannon Brownlee of Sports Illustrated, "Skating is a joy. One of Blair's most influential coaches was Cathy Priestner (later known as Cathy Priestner-Allinger when she married Todd Allinger in 1986). Despite unfavorable weather conditions at the outdoor rink, Blair won the 500-meter race.
Bonnie Crest Walter Blair (1907-1998) - Find a Grave Memorial 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. She was grateful for all of her successes, however, and for all the wonderful memories they gave her.
Bonnie Hoellein-Bio, Age, Net Worth, Height, Nationality, Facts And, as she told Barbara Matson in the Boston Globe, "Crossing that [finish] line was the happiest moment of my life.". A new record and a gold medal At the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary, she watched as Christa Rothenburger broke the world record at 500m. Brownlee, Shannon. Blair competed for the United States in four Olympics, winning five gold medals and one bronze medal. "Blair, Bonnie Nobody makes you do it. . She dominated the sprint events at three Olympic Games (1988, 1992, and 1994), winning five gold medals and one bronze. Realizing that success required both dedication and sacrifice, she gave up her spot on the Centennial High School cheerleading team to focus on skating and competitions. [5]:44, The 1990-1991 season had setbacks for Blair. 433 Bonnie Blair Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO All Sports Entertainment News Archival Browse 433 bonnie blair stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Blair's only disappointment was finishing 21st in the 1500 meter race. As a speed skater, Blair had exemplary technique which contributed to her success. 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 was only 5'5" and 125-130 lbs. Wife of William Edgar Blair. 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. All of Blair's two sisters and three brothers speed skated competitively because of their father. Blair made the 1984 U.S. Olympic team and competed in the 500-meter event at the Winter Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Also, Jack Sikma, a Encased in a glass tabletop in her house, Blair's gold medals have become part of her daily landscape. People Photos Purpose. [30] Training with Mueller in the summer before the Olympics, Blair regained her competitive edge. Blair continued competing through 1995 when the World Championships were held in Milwaukee, finally retiring in March 1995. "He's the hardest worker on the team," Blair later told Angus Phillips in the Washington Post, "and he got me into that, too. Blair remained a popular figure in Champaign for many years, and was even given the key to the city. She first gained acclaim by winning the world short-track title in 1986 at Chamonix, France. "People on the outside are like, 'Your mom is Bonnie Blair!' " Cruikshank said. 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. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. Siblings. [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. Her 1.38 second margin in the 1,000 meters race is the largest margin of victory in the history of the event. Professionally, Charlie Blair was an engineer while Eleanor Blair worked in real estate.
Lionel Blair: Veteran TV presenter and dancer dies at 92 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. [27] Blair also took a break from skating, enrolling in Montana Technological University. She is one of the top skaters of her era, and one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history. Copyright 2023 Web Solutions LLC. "Blair, Bonnie To win the 500-meter event, Blair beat Chinese skater Ye Qiaobo by 18 hundredths of a second. 5-time Olympic gold medalist speedskater Bonnie Blair Cruikshank is still hitting the ice at 57-years-old. At the time, Blair trained in both short-track and long-track speed skating. Blair was also the first American speed skater to win in more than one Olympic Games (1988, 1992, and 1994). 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. Since her retirement from competition in 1995 at the age of 31, she has turned her stellar Olympic performances into a successful career as a motivational speaker and corporate spokesperson. Ten years later, however, doctors were able to remove about half of the tumor, giving Blair and her family hope for a cure. Bonnie Kathleen Blair (born March 18, 1964) is a retired American speed skater. As Jere Longman wrote in the New York Times, "Blair has no mountains to climb. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. ", Blair competed as a speed skater one more season following her last Olympic win. [2] The family moved to Champaign, Illinois when Bonnie was a toddler. She used a low crouch and had a solid stroke. Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in Cornwall, New York, the youngest of six children. [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. Reilly, Rick. Biography Bonne Blair began competing as a speed skater when she was four years old. For the American actress Bonnie Blair Brown, see, Early career and first Olympics (19841986), Rise and becoming an Olympic medalist (19871989), List of multiple Olympic gold medalists in one event, "ESPN Classic - Blair is special but she doesn't know it", "Champaign's Bonnie Blair is, Quite Simply, Just a Good Skate", "Retiring at Top Speed; With Blair, Winning Comes First, Then the Party", "Parkland College Alumni Association - Notable Alumni Stories", "Coach Gets U.s. Speedskating Team Off Thin Ice", "Washingtonpost.com: Blair Wins 1,000, Sets Gold Record for U.S. Women", "Bonnie Blair shares the experience of her first Olympic Games, the ones in Sarajevo - Sarajevo Times", "World Cup Speed Skating: Bonnie Blair Derails East German Sweep", "Short-track Speedskating Long On Thrills", "Biographies & Statistics: 500m Ladies World Record Progression", "Blair, Jansen Top Speed Skaters in 500 for Second Night in Row", "Olympic Speed Skating Trials: Mary Docter Earns Spot on U.S. [8] Blair took classes at Parkland College, although college classes were less of a priority than training and she did not receive a degree. With her gold medals and winning personality to match, Blair captured the imagination of the American public, becoming a media darling and a favorite among fans.
Bonnie Blair - Historical records and family trees - MyHeritage memorial page for Bonnie Crest Walter Blair (18 Sep 1907-20 Mar 1998), Find a Grave Memorial ID 41060206, citing Oleander Memorial Gardens, Wilmington, New Hanover County . She dominated the sprint events at three Olympic Games (1988, 1992, and 1994), winning five gold medals and one bronze. 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. In 1986 the International Olympic Committee decided to alternate the Summer and Winter Games every two years, moving the 1996 Winter Games to 1994. In 1985, Blair won the North American indoor speed skating championship, and in 1986, she again won the U.S. indoor title. [10] Later that year, Blair appeared at her first Olympic games at age 19 in Sarajevo. At the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, Blair again won both the 500- and 1,000-meter races. In fact, Charlie Blair had his children at a competition while his youngest child was being born. During her gold medal-winning race, she also set a world's record with a time of 39.1 seconds. 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. Sports Illustrated (January 15, 1990): 92. Priestner had Blair train in the Olympic style on both short and long-track races. Winning means you're doing better than you've ever done before. By the time of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Alberta, Blair was regarded as one of the hopes for the future of American speed skating. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
10 Things You May Not Know About Bonnie and Clyde - HISTORY She won gold at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. Parrish, Paula. "Blair, Bonnie She is one of the top skaters of her era, and one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history. She ran wherever her coach decided he was missing a bodyon the long jump, high jump, short distances, and relays. 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. [37] Blair won the 1992 Oscar Mathisen Award (being the first female winner of this award). Bonnie Blair Sports, Goal, Physical Attraction 15 Copy quote Four key words--helped make my dreams come true. 5-time Olympic gold medalist speedskater Bonnie Blair Cruikshank is still hitting the ice at 57-years-old. Bonnie Blair. "Bonnie Blair is a 5-4 Colossus on Skates." She was the youngest of six children. Born in Philadelphia, she was the youngest of six children. [47] She was awarded a star (#7) on The Flag for Hope on September 29, 2015 in recognition of her outstanding Speed Skating Career and philanthropic efforts. 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.