Sports Illustrated (March 7, 1988): 50. Sports Illustrated (March 7, 1994): 42. Instead, she skated vicariously through her husband, who competed in international events. 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. [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. Explore Bonnie Blair Wiki Age, Height, Biography as Wikipedia, Husband, Family relation. [1] Her godmother is Canadian speed skater Cathy Priestner. Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in Cornwall, New York, the youngest of six children. Blair won events at 1984, 1985 and 1986 short-track world championships and was the 1986 overall short-track world champion. 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. There she won her first Olympic gold medal in the 500 meters and a bronze medal in the 1,000 meter. [32], Her success in the 1992 Olympics led to more attention for Blair. Paavo Nurmi (1897-1973) was one of the greatest distance runners of all time. Though she knew she was retiring, she left on top. She was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Blair later credited her husband's continuing involvement in the sport with helping her to make the transition from competition to civilian life. Scottish-born prime minister of Great Britain British politician and Prime Minister Tony Blair represented a new era in Parliament and made major changes to the Labour Party along the way. Blair competed for the United States in four Olympics, winning five gold medals and one bronze medal. (People jokingly said her job title was "Girl Friday," which is a reference to a character from Daniel Defoe's 18th century book Robinson Crusoe , because . Her unprecedented Olympic success began at the 1988 Calgary Games. Witteman, Paul A. An excellent student, she was allowed to graduate halfway through her senior year to focus on her training. ." Her death was announced in a statement that. ." Atlanta Journal and Constitution, February 9, 1998. At the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, Blair again won both the 500- and 1,000-meter races. She won a number of races as a child, including the Illinois state championship when she was seven. Her husband, Dave Cruikshank, was also a speed skater and she served as his technical consultant. She also took these titles in 1995. 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. After this, at the age of 31, she felt she was ready to retire from competitive skating. Encyclopedia.com. In December, Blair Cruikshank competed at the USA Speedskating Long Track National Championships in Utah. 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. Her final, record-breaking time for the 500-meter sprint was 38.99 seconds. 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. Join Facebook to connect with Bonnie Blair and others you may know. team. [11] Blair had not been not considered a front-runner and later recalled she was happy just to be at the games and see her family in the stands. She is one of the top skaters of her time, and one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history. . 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. "Skating first." She surpassed her 1988 Olympic performance, taking home the gold medal not only in the 500-meter event, but in the 1,000-meter race as well. Shortly after Blair's birth, her family moved to Champaign, Illinois. She has also made television commercials for such major corporations as McDonald's and AT&T. Sports Illustrated (February 24, 1992): 18. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Perhaps one of the most decorated and honored female athletes of the twentieth century, Bonnie's accomplishments are extensive. Bonnie Parker has 2 siblings, a brother, and a sister. Updates? [5]:44 Confidence in coach Crowe had waned in the lead up to the 1988 Olympics, Blair helped to recruit Peter Mueller to coach the U.S. team. American speed skater Bonnie Blairwas born on the 18 March 1953in Cornwall, New Yorkto Eleanor and Charlie Blair. "Glory and gloom." Looney, Douglas S. "Sprinting to Calgary." Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. [5]:44, Blair again competed at Olympics in 1992, this time held in Albertville, France. Blair would in later years recall that first Olympic gold medal victory as the high point of her career. Blairs greatest success came at the Olympics, though she started slowly. Training remained her focus, however. She won the 500 meters with a time of 39.1 seconds and the 1000 meters with a time of 1:18.74. "Whooosh!." Bonnie Kathleen Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in the Hudson River town of Cornwall, New York, and grew up in Champaign, Illinois. A year later she twice set a world record for the 500-metre event on the standard circuit. Denver Rocky Mountain News (February 15, 2002): 23S. Bonnie Blair Sports, Goal, Physical Attraction 15 Copy quote Four key words--helped make my dreams come true. She has been married to Dave Cruikshank since June 23, 1996. Ye trained by watching tapes of Blair. [45] She also was Female Athlete of the Year as selected by the Associated Press in 1994. places to practice were in Europe. 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. Bonnie Blair. She first gained acclaim by winning the world short-track title in 1986 at Chamonix, France. "Bonnie Blair Margie Frances Walter Rogers . 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. Her stellar performance at the 1992 Olympics also earned Blair the Sullivan Award as the Best Amateur Athlete in the United States. 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. During this last season, she shattered her world record time for the 500-meter sprint twice. Encyclopedia.com. [5]:45 Blair also began to pick-up more endorsements, including sports marketing group Advantage International. After the 1994 Olympics, Blair continued to compete. Blair told Brian Cazeneuve of The Sporting News, "I'm the one who puts pressure on myself. Compare DNA and explore genealogy for Bonnie (Blair) Roos born 1940s including ancestors + children + DNA connections + more in the free family tree community. (February 23, 2023). Blair remained a popular figure in Champaign for many years, and was even given the key to the city. In 1985, Blair won the North American indoor speed skating championship, and in 1986, she again won the U.S. indoor title. Myrtle was born on July 26 1899, in Manassa, Conejos, Colorado, United States. Though Blair trained for the Olympics like they were any other meet, she dominated the trials in the 500, 1000, and 1500 meter races. The victories led to more endorsements, and even more important to Blair, the popularity of speed skating. She dominated the sprint events at three Olympic Games (1988, 1992, and 1994), winning five gold medals and one bronze. . "Olympic Profile: Bonnie Blair; A Life of Skating Leads to Calgary." Blair continued to have success on the international level, though she also challenged herself to find ways to win. St. Although Ye claimed the crossover cost her the gold, the referee's rejected China's protest. Showing Editorial results for bonnie blair. In 1992, Blair received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement. At the time, Blair trained in both short-track and long-track speed skating. 9.04M subscribers Subscribe to @olympics: http://oly.ch/Subscribe Highlights as Bonnie Blair takes part in her third Olympic Games. Blair trained every morning before school and her discipline paid off; at age fifteen she qualified for the U.S. Olympic trials, but narrowly missed making the team. Four days later, she took the gold in the 1,000-meter race, winning by just two one-hundredths of a second. [18], Early in 1987, Blair won World Cup titles in the 500 and 1,000 meters. [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. 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. Blair said she quit because there was nothing left for her to prove. Bonnie Elaine Lorenc (born Blair) was born on month day 1925, at birth place, Utah, to Leo Amos Blair and Myrtle Hannah Blair (born Christensen). "Blair, Bonnie Priestner profoundly affected Blair's direction as a speed skater. Speed skating. Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/blair-bonnie. Siblings. Encyclopedia of World Biography. "I'm like, 'She's my mom.' It's never really a thought, and I guess I won't ever really . Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. Encyclopedia of World Biography. 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. Dec 6, 2013. [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. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures, Skoblikova, Lydia Professionally, Charlie Blair was an engineer while Eleanor Blair worked in real estate. [32] Blair's gold made her the most decorated U.S. woman in Winter Olympics of all time. Ye Qiaobo was expected to challenge Bonnie Blair in Calgary's 1988 Olympic . Bonnie Pointer, a Grammy-winning singer and songwriter who was a founding member of vocal group the Pointer Sisters, has died at the age of 69. She was the daughter of Charlie and Eleanor Blair, who raised their large Catholic family in Champaign, Illinois. Bonnie Blair, 92, of Dawson Springs, KY, died Friday, January 9, 2004, at 7:13 A.M., at her residence. She entered her first competition at age four and won her first race at age seven. Though Blair briefly considered not competing in the 1992 games, she told Douglas S. Looney of Sports Illustrated, "Skating has always been a pleasure and a joy. Phillips, Angus. [7], She is a member of the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame and the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. The coaching switch took place ten months before the 1992 Olympics. She stopped training as a skater for a brief period, spending four months training as a cyclist. 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 made the 1984 U.S. Olympic team and competed in the 500-meter event at the Winter Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. It's just you.". They settled in Milwaukee, where Blair has spent much of her time on the Bonnie Blair Charitable Gift Fund and as a celebrity representative for Olympic sponsors. This is an individual sport.". Jenkins, Sally. [1] The U.S. failed to win any speed skating medals at the 1984 Olympics. professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks, donated $1,500 for her trip. Best. When Bonnie Blair was born on 9 August 1914, in Letcher, Kentucky, United States, her father, William Blair, was 31 and her mother, Delia Pratt, was 35. They have two children. American speed skater In fact, Charlie Blair had his children at a competition while his youngest child was being born. Blair competed for the United States in four Olympics, winning five gold medals and one bronze medal. Matson, Barbara. 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. 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. Russian speed skater [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. Background Bonnie Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in Cornwall, New York, United States; the youngest of six children. and its Licensors She ran wherever her coach decided he was missing a bodyon the long jump, high jump, short distances, and relays. The Life Summary of Bonnie. In early 1995, she set another world's record in the 500 meters skating on the Olympic oval in Calgary where she won her first medal. Now unquestionably a star, in 1994 Blair went on to her third Winter Olympics, which were held in Lille-hammer, Norway. Sports Illustrated named Blair their Sportswoman of the Year for 1994. She received help from the local Champaign community. Blair made her Olympic debut in Sarajevo in 1984 where she finished eighth in the 500 meters. Occupation Singer Family Father - David Glyndwr Hopkins Mother - Elsie Hopkins "Blair, Bonnie She was the youngest of six children. [39][8] There, Blair won the 500 meters with a time of 39.54 seconds. Sports Illustrated for Women, February 2002. It was another first for a female athleteno other woman had ever won five Olympic gold medals for individual events. Bonnie E Blair of Texas was born c. 1944. After retiring from speed skating, Blair became a motivational speaker. She and her husband, fellow speed skater Dave Cruikshank, made their home in Milwaukee, and Blair kept up a heavy travel schedule, flying to different cities around the country to meet various corporate endorsement obligations. Bonnie Blair, 68 passed away unexpectedly at her home on Thursday Oct 24,2019. The youngster was named for a close family friend, who was also a skater. She contracted a severe case of bronchitis that affected her breathing. "Blair Enjoys Being Olympic Spectator." Blair wanted to continue to train for the 1984 Olympics and beyond, but had problems getting funding for her training. Blair was also the first American speed skater to win in more than one Olympic Games (1988, 1992, and 1994). In addition, Blair was active in charity work and continued to do some commercial endorsements for companies like General Mills products at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Copyright 2023 Web Solutions LLC. [28], Following the 1988 Olympics, Blair also tried track cycle racing, and was coached by former speed skater and cycling world champion Connie Paraskevin. Rushin, Steve. [34] Blair felt as though she had lost her quickness and after failing to rectify the problem with coach Peter Mueller, she switched to Nick Thometz. She is one of the top skaters of her era, and one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history. Mother of bonnie Fay wiszniewski; Private and Private. Encyclopedia.com. Blair took up speed skating when she was two years old, joining a family of avid speed skaters. To win the 500-meter event, Blair beat Chinese skater Ye Qiaobo by 18 hundredths of a second. The year following her return from Europe, she won the 1983 U.S. indoor speed skating championship, a title she won again in 1984. "A Bonnie blare." [1][3] Already a hobby for her siblings, Bonnie first tried skating at age two. The second-place finisher, Ye Qiaobo of China, claimed to have been slowed down by an improper crossover from another skater. Petruso, A. 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 ). 23 Feb. 2023 . I just want to go fast. Jenkins, Sally. Edwin Mosess athletic achievement is extraordinary by any standards. 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). [43] That same year she was a member of the U.S. Olympic delegation to Sochi. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. login . Bonnie Blair is a retired American speed skater. [37] Blair's success at Lillehammer placed her among the most decorate American Olympians of all time. Christensen, Karen, et al., eds. Blair told Shannon Brownlee of Sports Illustrated, "Skating is a joy. She also tried her hand at gymnastics for a while. Speed skater who won Olympic gold medals in 1988, 1992, and 1994. Wolff, Alexander. No longer a relative unknown, Blair was considered a favorite when she headed to the 1992 Winter Olympics held in Albertville, France. Cazeneuve, Brian. Who are Scott disick parents? Serendipitously, Milwaukee opened a new indoor skating rink in 1992, allowing her to train there all year. "Bonnie the blue." "One-woman ice show." New York Times (February 11, 1992): B11. Retton's all . Blair finished fourth in a national sprint competition for cyclists. ." Blair finished 0.36 seconds ahead of the second best time in the 500 meters. 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. Bonnie Blair is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Achieving Your Personal Best. Sports Illustrated (December 19, 1994): 72. The Blair Bunch was back even stronger at the 1992 Games in Albertville, France, with about 45 members swaying in unison in their purple team jackets and singing "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean." Bonnie Kathleen Blair This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bonnie-Blair, Bonnie Blair - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Cruikshank's mother is five-time Olympic gold medalist Bonnie Blair and her dad is four-time Olympian Dave Cruikshank. "Catching up with Bonnie Blair and Johann Olav Koss." In 1979 she began training with Cathy Priestner, a Canadian speed skater who had won a silver medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics. . "I just thought it was the right time," she said of her retirement to Blair won two gold medals in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville and her final two Olympic gold medals at the 1994 Lillehammer games. 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. 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. Also at the 1988 Olympics, Blair won the bronze medal for the 1,000-meter event. Blair's introduction to competitive skating was as a pack racer on short tracks where she competed against many people in one race. But Blair is going out on top." revlon flex conditioner review; is frankenstein 1931 movie public domain; bonnie blair siblings In 1989 she won her first world sprint championship. Most of all, she told Karen Rosen in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution in 1998, "I'm really grateful for VCRs so I can go back and relive it. Parry, Melanie, ed. The . All of Blair's two sisters and three brothers speed skated competitively because of their father. Blair dedicated her gold medal to her father, Charlie, who had died from lung cancer two years earlier. Encyclopedia.com. 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. She won gold at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. Blair's only disappointment was finishing 21st in the 1500 meter race. Priestner had been a speed skater since her teen years, winning a national championship within a year of taking up the sport.