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. . Blair was touched by the adulations of the crowd, saying that she had never heard any group of spectators cheer so hard for her. I'm definitely going to miss hearing the sound of that gun. Sports Illustrated (February 24, 1992): 18. 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. Brand, David. "Bonnie the blue." "Yanks on the move." "Blair Enjoys Being Olympic Spectator." Because an indoor training oval, Pettit National Ice Center, opened in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Blair moved there from Champaign. Blair also won gold in the 1000 meter race. [3] To finance the expense of training in Europe, the Champaign Policemen's Benevolent Association began sponsoring some of Blair. At the 1985 National Sports Festival, Blair swept the gold medals in all four women's short-track skating races, and won another gold as a member of a men's 5,000-meter relay team. She hired a different coach, Nick Thometz, who emphasized something different for Blair: explosive drills over strength and distance training. 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. Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in Cornwall, New York, the youngest of six children. "Time after time." Immediate Family: Daughter of ALONZA LONNIE RATLIFF and MAUDE RATLIFF. She also began serving on the board for U.S. Known as "The Flying Finn" and "The King of Runners," he do, Bonnie and Clyde (Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow), Bonnevault, Pierre (ca. Bonnie Kathleen Blair (born March 18, 1964) is a retired American speed skater. Bonnie Blair is a retired American speed skater who was one of the leading competitors in the sport. 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. Blairs greatest success came at the Olympics, though she started slowly. [14], At the December 1987 U.S. speed skating trials for the 1988 Winter Olympics, Blair led the women's field in the 500,1,000, and 1,500 meters, securing her place on the U.S. Olympic team, as expected. [19] Although Blair was four inches shorter than Enke-Kania, Blair's technique and fast start time made her a formidable competitor. 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. [23], Blair went on to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, where her first event was the 500 meters. Updates? Discover Bonnie Blair's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. . [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. Bonnie Kathleen Blair (born March 18, 1964) is a retired American speed skater. Also, Jack Sikma, a Professionally, Charlie Blair was an engineer while Eleanor Blair worked in real estate. Blair came from a family of avid skaters and began entering races when she was four years old. Blair finished fourth in a national sprint competition for cyclists. Blair wanted to continue to train for the 1984 Olympics and beyond, but had problems getting funding for her training. 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. Blair's last year as a competitive speed skater was 1995. Mary Blair was 19 when her youngest sibling, Bonnie, was born. In 1993 and 1994, she won gold medals at the World Championships in 500 meters. Blair won two gold medals in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville and her final two Olympic gold medals at the 1994 Lillehammer games. . 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. "The last lap." [50] The pair married in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1996. Jeansonne, John. Blair finished 0.36 seconds ahead of the second best time in the 500 meters. Born in Philadelphia, she was the youngest of six children. par | Juin 16, 2022 | east bridgewater town election 2021 | valleydale hot dogs | Juin 16, 2022 | east bridgewater town election 2021 | valleydale hot dogs She was a pupil at Jefferson Middle School and Centennial High School. 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. Washington Post (January 2, 1992): D3. Her stellar performance at the 1992 Olympics also earned Blair the Sullivan Award as the Best Amateur Athlete in the United States. [39] The Blair Bunch, the name given to Blair's family and friends, accounted for 12% of the crowd at the Pettit National Ice Center. Bonnie worked at the Sleezer Home in Freeport until retirement in 2016. [10] Later that year, Blair appeared at her first Olympic games at age 19 in Sarajevo. [32] Blair won her second gold of the 1992 Olympics in the 1,000 meters (1:21.90). https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/blair-bonnie, Petruso, A. Bonnie Blair was born on 18 March, 1964 in Cornwall, New York, United States, is an American speed skater. 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. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures, Skoblikova, Lydia 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. 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. Blair had more success in 1984, making the U.S. women's speed skating team for the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2001. Veteran entertainer, TV presenter and dancer Lionel Blair has died aged 92, his agent has said. Bonnie graduated from Warren High School in 1969. Encyclopedia of World Biography. Still Blair changed her training a bit. [51][52] Grant Cruikshank played hockey at Colorado College and as of 2021 for the University of Minnesota. Bonnie Blair, 92, of Dawson Springs, KY, died Friday, January 9, 2004, at 7:13 A.M., at her residence. Blair's European trip had the desired effect, sharpening her skills for more competition. [16][10] On the 1985-1986 World Cup Circuit, Blair finished fourth in four distances: the 500 meter, 1,000 meter, and 1,500 meter. 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. Blair knew how to win and took advantage of it. [20] Blair continued on to the 1995 World Championships in her adopted home town of Milwaukee. [2][4] She completed her high school diploma through the mail in 1982. [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. One of Blair's most influential coaches was Cathy Priestner (later known as Cathy Priestner-Allinger when she married Todd Allinger in 1986). 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. Wolff, Alexander. As a speed skater, Blair had exemplary technique which contributed to her success. [5]:45 Blair also began to pick-up more endorsements, including sports marketing group Advantage International. As a speed skater, Blair had exemplary technique which contributed to her success. Blair was the youngest of six children of Charlie, a civil engineer, and Eleanor Blair, a homemaker. Corrections? ." (February 23, 2023). [27] Blair also took a break from skating, enrolling in Montana Technological University. People Photos Purpose. Blair made the 1984 U.S. Olympic team and competed in the 500-meter event at the Winter Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. 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. "Bonnie Blair is a 5-4 Colossus on Skates." Bonnie was born March 18, 1964. I just want to go fast. Bonnie Blair. Looney, Douglas S. "Sprinting to Calgary." No longer a relative unknown, Blair was considered a favorite when she headed to the 1992 Winter Olympics held in Albertville, France. Ye Qiaobo was expected to challenge Bonnie Blair in Calgary's 1988 Olympic . 23 Feb. 2023 . Background Bonnie Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in Cornwall, New York, United States; the youngest of six children. Cloud State Men's Hockey @SCSUHuskies_MH . That is, races that were conducted with a number of skaters competing against each other in a pack. Noden, Merrell. When training in Milwaukee, she enrolled at Parkland College but did not graduate. "Olympic Profile: Bonnie Blair; A Life of Skating Leads to Calgary." Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in Cornwall, New York, the youngest of six children. Wolff, Alexander. . [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. She was the youngest of six children, all of whom learned to skate at an early age. By the time she was in grade school, speed skating had become her number-one leisure activity. Fundraising was spearheaded by the Champaign police force in 1982, and Blair received support from such disparate sources as one of her brother's college fraternity brothers, professional basketball player Jack Silma who played with the Milwaukee Bucks. In 2021, Blair spoke out in opposition to allowing male-to-female transgender athletes to participate in organized athletics.[54]. Sports Illustrated (December 19, 1994): 72. Bonnie Kathleen Blair But Dave gave me real direction.". She was raised in Illinois, but she moved to Milwaukee to further her speed-skating career. [7] Blair topped her own World Record the following year, achieving a time of 38.69 on February 12, 1995 in Calgary. She remained connected to speed skating by serving as a coach and conducting clinics. 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. Bonnie Kathleen Blair (born March 18, 1964) is a retired American speed skater. After the 1994 Olympics, Blair received more honors and product endorsement offers. 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. Rushin, Steve. Of the six, five were gold, making Blair the only American woman to ever win five gold medals in the games. [24][25] Rothenburger skating first, setting a new world record. There she won her first Olympic gold medal in the 500 meters and a bronze medal in the 1,000 meter. Blair won the 1000 meter race by only .02 seconds. Priestner profoundly affected Blair's direction as a speed skater. [19] Blair held a world record at 500 meters until December 1987 when Christa Rothenburger beat her time at the World Cup. Olympic speed skating competitions were conducted differently. Myrtle was born on July 26 1899, in Manassa, Conejos, Colorado, United States. On 23 June 1996 she married Dave Cruikshank, a fellow speed skater on the U.S. Olympic Facebook gives people the power to. Phillips, Angus. At the 1984 Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (now in Bosnia and Herzegovina), she could finish no better than eighth in the 500-metre event. Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/blair-bonnie. Encyclopedia.com. Bonnie Kathleen Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in the Hudson River town of Cornwall, New York, and grew up in Champaign, Illinois. The . [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. She is one of the top skaters of her era, and one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history. In 1979 she began training with Cathy Priestner, a Canadian speed skater who had won a silver medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics. 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. In fact, Charlie Blair had his children at a competition while his youngest child was being born. She was the daughter of Charlie and Eleanor Blair, who raised their large Catholic family in Champaign, Illinois. Notable Sports Figures. The following summer Blair moved to Butte, Montana, where she enrolled at the Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology. International Encyclopedia of Women and Sports. Blair continued to serve on the board for U.S. 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. "Retiring at Top Speed." Blair was the only American to win two medals at these games, and was given the honor of carrying the American flag at the closing ceremonies. Charlie had dreamed of Bonnie becoming an Olympic speed skater. Blair returned to the Olympics in 1988 competing in long-track at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. Bonnie Blair, 68 passed away unexpectedly at her home on Thursday Oct 24,2019. Bonnie Blair generally travels from Milwaukee, WI, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances . [37] Blair's success at Lillehammer placed her among the most decorate American Olympians of all time. The coaching switch took place ten months before the 1992 Olympics. She and Apolo Anton Ohno are both world-famous speed skaters. She is one of the top skaters of her era, and one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history. Bonnie Parker was born on October 1, 1910. . Blair lost focus for a while after the death of her father on December 25, 1989. She skated twice around the Pettit National Ice Center for a cheering crowd of ten thousand fans before lighting the Olympic caldron set up at the Center. Bonnie Blair was married to Raymond W. Blair on May 7, 2004 in Johnson County, Texas. Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/blair-bonnie. She first gained acclaim by winning the world short-track title in 1986 at Chamonix, France. Blair would also hold a number of world's and American records over the course of her speed skating career. Blair won events at 1984, 1985 and 1986 short-track world championships and was the 1986 overall short-track world champion. Blair competed for the United States in four Olympics, winning five gold medals and one bronze medal. "Blair, Bonnie Blair won the World Sprint Championships, then retired on March 18, 1995, after the competition held on her home ice in Milwaukee. During this last season, she shattered her world record time for the 500-meter sprint twice. "Whooosh!." 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. Denver Rocky Mountain News (February 15, 2002): 23S. 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. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in Cornwall, New York, the youngest of six children. "To mettle the medal." Address: c/o 306 White Pine Rd., Delafield, WI 53018-1124. Speed skater Eric Heiden won five gold medals in the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York. Her father, a bricklayer, died in 1914, and Emma Parker moved the family to "Cement City" in West Dallas to live closer to . Notable Sports Figures. She graduated from Centennial High School, and later took some courses at Parkland Junior College in Champaign. She was considered the best American hope for a medal, and did not disappoint. . Dec 6, 2013. Though she did well at the meet, she did not make the team. Death: May 16, 1976 (47) Prestonsburg, floyd, Kentucky, United States. In fact, Charlie Blair had his children at a competition while his youngest child was being born. Sports Illustrated (February 28, 1994): 18. [20] Blair also proved she could beat East-German world champion Karin Enke-Kania in head-to-head match-ups. Siblings. "Glory and gloom." places to practice were in Europe. [42] As of 2002, Blair served on U.S. Speedskating's board of directors. Four of her siblings would hold speedskating titles. In the summer of 1991 Blair resumed full-time training back in Milwaukee under her new coach, Peter Mueller. Showing Editorial results for bonnie blair. Parrish, Paula. From 1986 to 1988 at the World Sprint Championships, Blair finished second once and third twice. She has been married to Dave Cruikshank since June 23, 1996. 47 No. (b. After fellow speed skater Johann Olav Koss founded Right to Play in 2000, he recruited Blair to serve as one of the charities first celebrity ambassadors. Cycling became part of Blair's speed skating training as both sports utilized the same muscle groups. Speed skating champion Bonnie Blair (born 1964) is the most highly decorated American Winter Olympic athlete in history with six medals. [50] Blair and Cruikshank have two children: a son, Grant, and daughter, Blair. "A Bonnie blare." Blair competed for the United States in four Olympics, and in her Olympic career won five gold medals and one bronze medal. "Introspective Blair Rebuffs Outside World in Pursuit of Gold." All Rights Reserved Reilly, Rick. ." 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. Blair continued to have success on the international level, though she also challenged herself to find ways to win. [32], Her success in the 1992 Olympics led to more attention for Blair. Blair took up speed skating when she was two years old, joining a family of avid speed skaters. After retiring from speed skating, Blair became a motivational speaker. [7], It wasn't until 1979 when Olympic medalist Cathy Priestner Faminow became Blair's coach that Blair switched from pack style to long track speed skating in which skaters compete for the fastest time. (She finished fourth in the 1500 meter race.) Blair was also the first American speed skater to win in more than one Olympic Games (1988, 1992, and 1994). 1958- She ran wherever her coach decided he was missing a bodyon the long jump, high jump, short distances, and relays. Bonnie Kathleen Blair is the most decorated woman in Winter Olympic history. Blair first donned skates at the age of two, and was competing as a speed skater by the age of four. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. She achieved personal bests in all four of her events and recorded the fastest time of any junior in three of them. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. It's just you.". . A year later she captured her first World Short-Track Championship by winning three of the four events. "Blair, Bonnie She did not win any medals, but it proved a valuable experience for her. (February 23, 2023). Rushin, Steve. Barrow, who was 20, was a volatile ex-con and a wanted man who had vowed that he would . Though Blair trained for the Olympics like they were any other meet, she dominated the trials in the 500, 1000, and 1500 meter races. ", Blair competed as a speed skater one more season following her last Olympic win. "The kids eat cereal on top of it," she told Parrish, "but it's got a heavy top, so nothing gets underneath." . Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.