A Look Back At 10 Memorable Performances By Team USA Women In Winter Sports In 2023
U.S. women (and one mixed team) shined in 2023 with world titles, record-breaking performances and some notable firsts.
5
GOLD
0
SILVER
1
BRONZE
Athlete Bio#
Age
60
Hometown
Champaign, IL
Education
Centennial High School (Champaign, Ill.)
Personal
Daughter of Charlie and Eleanor Blair...Youngest of six children...Joined the U.S. National Speedskating Team after graduating from high school...Roughly 30 members of her family traveled to the Olympic Winter Games Calgary 1988 to watch her compete, becoming known as the “Blair Bunch” by the media...Was the first American woman to win five Olympic gold medals...Named Sportswoman of the Year by Sports Illustrated in 1994...Founded the Bonnie Blair Charitable Fund...Active supporter of the American Cancer Society and the Alzheimer’s Association...Mother to two children.Olympic Experience
- 4-time Olympian; 6-time Olympic medalist (5 gold, 1 bronze)
- Olympic Games Hamar 1994, gold (1000m - Women, 500m - Women), 4th (1500m - Women)
- Olympic Games Albertville 1992, gold (1000m - Women, 500m - Women), 21th (1500m - Women)
- Olympic Games Calgary 1988, gold (500m - Women), bronze (1000m - Women), 4th (1500m - Women)
- Olympic Games Sarajevo 1984, 8th (500m - Women)
World Championships Experience
- Most recent: 1995 – gold (Sprint Combination - Women)
- Years of participation: Sprint Combination - Women 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995; 3000m Relay - Women 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986; Overall - Women 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986
- Medals: 14 (4 gold, 5 silver, 5 bronze)
- Gold – 1995 (Sprint Combination - Women); 1994 (Sprint Combination - Women); 1989 (Sprint Combination - Women); 1986 (Overall - Women)
- Silver – 1993 (Sprint Combination - Women); 1992 (Sprint Combination - Women); 1990 (Sprint Combination - Women); 1987 (Sprint Combination - Women); 1985 (Overall - Women)
- Bronze – 1988 (Sprint Combination - Women); 1986 (Sprint Combination - Women); 1984 (3000m Relay - Women, Overall - Women); 1983 (3000m Relay - Women)
Hall Of Fame Bio #
The first American woman to win five Olympic gold medals at the Olympic Winter Games, speedskater Bonnie Blair dominated the sprint events of long track speedskating across three Games. Born in Cornwall, New York, Blair began entering races at just 4 years old. Winning the world short track title in 1986 at Chamonix, France, Blair went on to twice set a world record in the 500-meter event. She was also the first skater in history to win three straight Olympic gold medals in the 500. The four-time Olympian earned a gold medal in the 500 and a bronze in the 1,000 at the Olympic Winter Games Calgary 1988, and would go on to capture gold medals in the 500 and 1,000 at both the 1992 and 1994 Games. At the time of her induction into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, Blair was the most decorated female U.S. Winter Olympian of all time. She was also one of the most decorated female U.S. Olympians in individual events. Upon her retirement from the sport, Blair became a motivational speaker and humanitarian, supporting a number of charities through her own organization, the Bonnie Blair Charitable Fund.
