American track and field athlete [1] Her godmother is Canadian speed skater Cathy Priestner. 9.04M subscribers Subscribe to @olympics: http://oly.ch/Subscribe Highlights as Bonnie Blair takes part in her third Olympic Games. She entered her first competition at age four and won her first race at age seven. Bonnie Kathleen Blair (born March 18, 1964) is a retired American speed skater. All Rights Reserved Blairs greatest success came at the Olympics, though she started slowly. Bonnie Blair. She won gold at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. "He's the hardest worker on the team," Blair later told Angus Phillips in the Washington Post, "and he got me into that, too. No matter what the competition is, I try to find a goal that day and better that goal. In the summer of 1991 Blair resumed full-time training back in Milwaukee under her new coach, Peter Mueller. Although she was small for a speed skater, Blairs technique was nearly flawless. Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in Cornwall, New York, the youngest of six children. [5]:45 Blair also began to pick-up more endorsements, including sports marketing group Advantage International. . Blair also won gold in the 1000 meter race. ABC-CLIO, 1996. Atlanta Journal and Constitution, February 9, 1998. [7][9], Blair made her international competitive debut at the 1984 World Sprinting Championships where she placed tenth. [43] That same year she was a member of the U.S. Olympic delegation to Sochi. With the oval in Milwaukee closed in the off-season, the best Olympic speed skating competitions were conducted differently. Blair returned to the Olympics in 1988 competing in long-track at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. [2] Blair's family friends in the stands, affectionately known as the "Blair Bunch," became a staple of her competitive career. Sports Illustrated (March 7, 1988): 50. And as far as skating goes, she's got a lot of class.". She again won the world sprint title in 1994, also winning the World Cup 500- and 1,000-metre races that year. Encyclopedia.com. Bonnie Blair is a retired American speed skater who was one of the leading competitors in the sport. Her total of six Olympic medals (five gold and a bronze) also made her the most successful American Winter Olympian in history. 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:. [24][25] Rothenburger skating first, setting a new world record. 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. Blair broke the 39-second mark by skating it in 38.13 seconds. [48][49], Blair began dating fellow Olympic speed skater Dave Cruikshank in 1990. Blair was the youngest of six children of Charlie, a civil engineer, and Eleanor Blair, a homemaker. Bonnie Blair was born on 18 March, 1964 in Cornwall, New York, United States, is an American speed skater. [32] Blair won her second gold of the 1992 Olympics in the 1,000 meters (1:21.90). She was named as the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year and the USOC Sportswoman of the Year. [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. Blair won the 1000 meter race by only .02 seconds. She was grateful for all of her successes, however, and for all the wonderful memories they gave her. 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. Charlie had dreamed of Bonnie becoming an Olympic speed skater. [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. Noden, Merrell. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. Updates? That is, races that were conducted with a number of skaters competing against each other in a pack. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). At the time, Blair trained in both short-track and long-track speed skating. Bonnie Kathleen Blair (born March 18, 1964) is a retired American speed skater. [4] At age 15, Blair tried out for the national team, earning a spot on her first attempt. But Dave gave me real direction.". Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in Cornwall, New York, the youngest of six children. Explore Bonnie Blair Wiki Age, Height, Biography as Wikipedia, Husband, Family relation. Cruikshank's mother is five-time Olympic gold medalist Bonnie Blair and her dad is four-time Olympian Dave Cruikshank. She dominated the sprint events at three Olympic Games (1988, 1992, and 1994), winning five gold medals and one bronze. This sensational run made Blair the top gold medalist at the festival. Showing Editorial results for bonnie blair. [1][3] Already a hobby for her siblings, Bonnie first tried skating at age two. [2] Two of Blair's competitors, who skated after her, subsequently beat her time; thus Blair won the bronze in the 1,000 meters. 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. The victories led to more endorsements, and even more important to Blair, the popularity of speed skating. 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. 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. Blair has also become an accomplished motivational speaker, addressing audiences on such topics as "Achieving Your Personal Best." 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. Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in Cornwall, New York, the youngest of six children. She entered the Winter Games in Albertville, France, as the favorite in both events. Blair, under the weather with a cough and cold, finished second in the event. places to practice were in Europe. Place of Burial: Paintsville, Johnson, Kentucky, United States. Sports Illustrated (February 7, 1994): 90. Bonnie Blair was married to Raymond W. Blair on May 7, 2004 in Johnson County, Texas. At her peak, she considered the fastest woman in the world in speed skating. "Bonnie Blue (now Bonnie Vaughn) lived across the street . Mother of bonnie Fay wiszniewski; Private and Private. She also set a world record for the 500-meter event in Heerenveen, Holland, at the end of the 1987 season. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. She ran wherever her coach decided he was missing a bodyon the long jump, high jump, short distances, and relays. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/bonnie-blair, "Bonnie Blair Imperial Oil Web Site. Great Women in Sports. Though she did well at the meet, she did not make the team. Veteran entertainer, TV presenter and dancer Lionel Blair has died aged 92, his agent has said. She was a member of four U.S. Olympic Speed Skating Teams, winner of five Olympic gold medals between 1988 and 1994 . There she won two more gold medals, for both the 500-meter and the 1,000-meter races. Bonnie Blair of Champaign, IL, races in the women's 500 meter speed skating event at Hamar Olympic Hall in Hamar, Norway, Saturday, February 19, 1994. Blair was touched by the adulations of the crowd, saying that she had never heard any group of spectators cheer so hard for her. World class track-and-field athlete Of the six, five were gold, making Blair the only American woman to ever win five gold medals in the games. She also took these titles in 1995. In Champaign, I'd miss a workout or two. "The last lap." Sports Illustrated (February 28, 1994): 18. Bonnie Kathleen Blair (born March 18, 1964) is a retired American speed skater. Then she went out and bettered Rothenburger's time by two hundredths of a second to win her first gold medal. But Blair is going out on top." The Olympic style favored Blair's small stature and emphasis on technique. She was the youngest of six children. 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. 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. There she won her first Olympic gold medal in the 500 meters and a bronze medal in the 1,000 meter. https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/blair-bonnie, Petruso, A. Bonnie Parker has 2 siblings, a brother, and a sister. 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. In 1992, Blair received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement. Bonnie Blair Having gained five gold medals and one bronze medal in three Olympic Games, Blair became the most decorated female Winter Olympian in U.S. history. [34] At the 1994, U.S. Olympic long-track trials at the Pettit National Ice Center, Blair set track records in the first round of the 500 meter and 1,000 meter trails. She was a pupil at Jefferson Middle School and Centennial High School. As Jere Longman wrote in the New York Times, "Blair has no mountains to climb. She dominated the sprint events at three Olympic Games (1988, 1992, and 1994), winning five gold medals and one bronze. In 1979 she began training with Cathy Priestner, a Canadian speed skater who had won a silver medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics. Blair finished fourth in a national sprint competition for cyclists. They saw Blair win two more golds. . Her 1.38 second margin in the 1,000 meters race is the largest margin of victory in the history of the event. Facebook gives people the power to. [7], She is a member of the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame and the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. "To mettle the medal." Sports Illustrated (January 27, 1988): 236. After retiring from speed skating, Blair became a motivational speaker. She graduated from Centennial High School, and later took some courses at Parkland Junior College in Champaign. [23], Blair went on to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, where her first event was the 500 meters. 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. Join Facebook to connect with Bonnie Blair and others you may know. She was the daughter of Charlie and Eleanor Blair, who raised their large Catholic family in Champaign, Illinois. Time (February 24, 1992): 54. We can also contact her at bonnie.hoellein@gmail.com for more information. "Bonnie Blair," HickokSports.com, http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/blairbon.shtml (March 10, 2003). Blair was born in Cornwall, New York to Charlie and Eleanor Blair. 1. [37] Blair won the 1992 Oscar Mathisen Award (being the first female winner of this award). Best. After the 1994 Olympics, Blair continued to compete. 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. Realizing the risk involved in cycling, Blair soon gave up the sport and returned her focus to speed skating. I just want to go fast. Sports Illustrated for Women, February 2002. Blair would also hold a number of world's and American records over the course of her speed skating career. Another problem for Blair was the lack of competition among the American women speed skaters in the late 1980s and early 1990s. As a speed skater, Blair had exemplary technique which contributed to her success. "Bonnie's bounty." Blair told Brian Cazeneuve of The Sporting News, "I'm the one who puts pressure on myself. (February 23, 2023). No longer a relative unknown, Blair was considered a favorite when she headed to the 1992 Winter Olympics held in Albertville, France. 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. "I'm like, 'She's my mom.' It's never really a thought, and I guess I won't ever really . Blair was forced to rely on superior technique and a ferocious will to win because of her physical limitations. 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. Boston Globe (January 9, 2002): F7. [42] As of 2014, Blair worked as a motivational speaker and corporate spokesperson. Priestner had Blair train in the Olympic style on both short and long-track races. Biography Bonne Blair began competing as a speed skater when she was four years old. She remained connected to speed skating by serving as a coach and conducting clinics. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks, donated $1,500 for her trip. Looney, Douglas S. "Sprinting to Calgary." Bonnie Blair. Winning means you're doing better than you've ever done before. 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. [32] Blair's gold made her the most decorated U.S. woman in Winter Olympics of all time. 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. People Photos Purpose. Blair was also the first American speed skater to win in more than one Olympic Games (1988, 1992, and 1994). Time (March 7, 1988): 69. In 1993 and 1994, she won gold medals at the World Championships in 500 meters. This allowed Blair to train seriously, including one stint with the U.S. men's speed skating team in Butte, Montana. Encyclopedia.com. [2] The family moved to Champaign, Illinois when Bonnie was a toddler. [33] The attempt to compete at her fourth Olympics was not without its challenges; the 1993 season was lackluster for Blair. She was the most decorated Winter Olympian in U.S. history when she retired in 1995. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures, Skoblikova, Lydia . A year later she twice set a world record for the 500-metre event on the standard circuit. All of Blair's two sisters and three brothers speed skated competitively because of their father. 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 . During her gold medal-winning race, she also set a world's record with a time of 39.1 seconds. American speed skater Blair competed for the United States in four Olympics, winning five gold medals and one bronze medal. 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. When training in Milwaukee, she enrolled at Parkland College but did not graduate. "Blair Enjoys Being Olympic Spectator." She contracted a severe case of bronchitis that affected her breathing. Encyclopedia of World Biography. She was the youngest of six children, all of whom learned to skate at an early age. Blair made her Olympic debut in Sarajevo in 1984 where she finished eighth in the 500 meters. She first gained acclaim by winning the world short-track title in 1986 at Chamonix, France. ." Her life has been a furious blur of flashing blades,. Blair, whose stage and screen career spanned eight decades, died early on Thursday morning. Bonnie Blair is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Achieving Your Personal Best. 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. "Bonnie Blair is a 5-4 Colossus on Skates." Bonnie Blair Cruikshank is our local Olympic superstar: five time gold medalist, six medals overall. 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. Before Priestner, Blair only competed in short-track, pack-style racing. Ye trained by watching tapes of Blair. [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. She counts herself lucky in being able to maintain such an active retirement, noting that not all Olympic gold medalists have been as fortunate. Priestner had been a speed skater since her teen years, winning a national championship within a year of taking up the sport. Bonnie Blairwas raised in Champaign, Illinois. Parker, Bonnie (1910-1934). [20] Blair continued on to the 1995 World Championships in her adopted home town of Milwaukee. [2][25] Blair's third and final event of the 1988 Winter Olympics was the 1,500 meters, in which she placed fourth. She was the daughter of Charlie and Eleanor Blair, who raised their large Catholic family in Champaign, Illinois. . As Blair approached the final 400 meters, Mueller gave the signal. Myrtle was born on July 26 1899, in Manassa, Conejos, Colorado, United States. Instead, she skated vicariously through her husband, who competed in international events. "A Bonnie blare." Serendipitously, Milwaukee opened a new indoor skating rink in 1992, allowing her to train there all year. Blair won her fourth career gold medal with a . All these elder siblings became a canopy of extra moms and dads under which Bonnie grew up. They have two children. bonnie blair siblingsmeadowglen lane apartments. Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/bonnie-blair. [26], Despite her success at the 1988 Olympics, Blair did not enjoy a windfall from endorsements. [18], Early in 1987, Blair won World Cup titles in the 500 and 1,000 meters. She was the daughter of Charlie and Eleanor Blair, who raised their large Catholic family in Champaign, Illinois. New York Times (February 9, 1987): 166. 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. [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. Blair competed for the United States in four Olympics, winning five gold medals and one bronze medal. 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. When Derek Parra set a new world record in the men's 1,500-meter speedskating competition at the 2002 Winter Olympics, h, Paavo Nurmi After the turn of the twenty-first century, Blair still found herself involved in speed skating, even though she no longer competed. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. Blair has also been involved in the American Brain Tumor Association's efforts to combat this little-understood disease; in 1987, Blair's brother Rob was diagnosed with brain cancer that was deemed terminal. She also won two gold medals at the '92 . Bonnie E Blair of Texas was born c. 1944. St. She did some television commentary for speed skating. She went to work coaching the U.S. women's speed skating team, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. In 1986, Blair set her first world's record in the 500 meters. Bonnie Blair Dream, Distance, Accomplishment 11 Copy quote I never could have achieved the success that I have without setting physical activity and health goals. She dominated the sprint events at three Olympic Games (1988, 1992, and 1994), winning five gold medals and one bronze. "The kids eat cereal on top of it," she told Parrish, "but it's got a heavy top, so nothing gets underneath." She soon regained her form and confidence, winning dozens of 500- and 1,000-meter races leading up to the 1992 Olympics. The year following her return from Europe, she won the 1983 U.S. indoor speed skating championship, a title she won again in 1984. . When Blair was sixteen, she competed at her first Olympic trials for the 1980 Winter Olympics. Sports Illustrated (March 6, 1989): 32. Also, Jack Sikma, a Blair won events at 1984, 1985 and 1986 short-track world championships and was the 1986 overall short-track world champion. To celebrate, she climbed into the stands, still wearing her skates, to hug her family and friends. Though she knew she was retiring, she left on top. Sports Illustrated (January 15, 1990): 92. Jenkins, Sally. I don't see any torture in this at all.". They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Although Ye claimed the crossover cost her the gold, the referee's rejected China's protest. [19] Blair held a world record at 500 meters until December 1987 when Christa Rothenburger beat her time at the World Cup. Bonnie Parker first met Clyde Barrow through a mutual friend in January 1930, when Bonnie was 19 years old. Williams, Lena. 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. She became the first American woman to win five gold Olympic medals and the first American Winter Olympian to win six career medals. Bonnie Blair C Retweeted. She hired a different coach, Nick Thometz, who emphasized something different for Blair: explosive drills over strength and distance training. "Glory and gloom." It's fun to set goals, reach goals, reset goals. 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. [53][44] Blair's daughter competed at the 2018 United States Olympic speed skating trials at the 500 meter distance, held at Pettit National Ice Center. Priestner profoundly affected Blair's direction as a speed skater. Blair continued to have success on the international level, though she also challenged herself to find ways to win. 12. Immediate Family: Daughter of ALONZA LONNIE RATLIFF and MAUDE RATLIFF. Blair was also the first American speed skater to win in more than one Olympic Games (1988, 1992, and 1994). Newsday (February 6, 1994): 16. [28] Blair was back to competing later in the season and won the 1989 World Sprint Championships held in Heerenveen, Netherlands. Encyclopedia.com. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/blair-bonnie. Blair had more success in 1984, making the U.S. women's speed skating team for the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. 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." Training remained her focus, however. She was the first Canadian woman to win a medal in speed skating. Blair won her first gold medal at the 1988 Winter Olympics held in Calgary, Canada. Corrections? American Stock/Getty Images. "I just thought it was the right time," she said of her retirement to 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. Shortly after Blair's birth, her family moved to Champaign, Illinois. [21][22] Blair was considered a stronger competitor in the shorter distances, where she was seen as the United States' best chance at a gold medal in speed skating. Also at the 1988 Olympics, Blair won the bronze medal for the 1,000-meter event. [14] After the 1984 Olympics, Blair worked closely with coach Mike Crowe to improve her skating skills to compete with the powerful East German skaters. Brownlee, Shannon. Blair lives in Delafield, Wisconsin, with her husband and their son Grant and daughter Blair. 9 August 1914-21 December 1983 (Age 69) Letcher, Kentucky, United States. In December, Blair Cruikshank competed at the USA Speedskating Long Track National Championships in Utah. It's just you.". Despite unfavorable weather conditions at the outdoor rink, Blair won the 500-meter race. [43] As of 2018, Blair serves on the board of the Pettit National Ice Center. [37] Blair's success at Lillehammer placed her among the most decorate American Olympians of all time. (February 23, 2023). [5]:44 The breathing problem lingered through the 1991 World Sprint Championships where she finished fifth. The, Parra, Derek: 1970: Athlete Watch a short video featuring Bonnie Blair. 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. Wife of William Edgar Blair. bonnie blair siblings. Who are Scott disick parents? [19] Although Blair was four inches shorter than Enke-Kania, Blair's technique and fast start time made her a formidable competitor. Bonnie Hoellein - Net Worth 2023. Johnson, Anne Janette. For example, Blair finished fifth in the 1991 World Sprint Championships, though she was also suffering from bronchitis at the time. Her final, record-breaking time for the 500-meter sprint was 38.99 seconds. [8] Blair took classes at Parkland College, although college classes were less of a priority than training and she did not receive a degree. In winning the 500- and 1,000-meter speed-skating racesgiving her five career gold medals and a bronze, earned over three sets of gamesBlair proved herself to be the greatest female sprint . Witteman, Paul A. [5]:45 After the Olympics, Blair moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to train at the newly opened Pettit International Ice Center. All of Blair's two sisters and three brothers speed skated competitively because of their father. She made her competitive cycling debut in June 1989 at the Sundance Juice Sparkler Grand Prix. New York Times (February 11, 1992): B11.
Lisa Owens Boston, Matt Martino And Jane Newton, Wheeling, Wv Drug Arrests, Articles B