JOHN S. JOHNSON  Born May 11, 1873.  Died 1934.  Elected to Hall of Fame May 14, 1960 at Colorado Springs, Colorado.  World Champion.  Reached his peak in 1908.  Submitted by the Minnesota Association and Mrs. Mary Danielson.

ART STAFF  Born February 4, 1897.  World Champion.  Peak in 1917.  Elected May 20, 1961 at Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Submitted by Richard P. McCarter and Amateur Skating Association of Illinois.

EDMUND LAMY  Born January 18, 1891.  Died September 8, 1962.  Elected May 20, 1961 at Minneapolis, Minnesota.  International Champion.  Submitted by Northern New York Association and Eugene Lynch.

ROY McWHIRTER  Born August 2, 1895.  International Champion.  Elected May 20, 1961 at Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Submitted by Richard P. McCarter and Amateur Skating Association of Illinois.

EVERETT McGOWAN  Born 1901.  International Champion.  Peak in 1921.  Elected May 19, 1962 at Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Submitted by the Eastern Minnesota Association and Clarice Mattson.

JACK SHEA  Born September 10, 1910.  International and Olympic Champion.  Peak in 1932.  Elected May 19, 1962 at Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Submitted by Northern New York Association and Eugene Lynch.  Sadly, Jack was killed by a drunk driver in Lake Placid on January 22, 2002.  He was 91 years old.

VALENTINE BIALAS  Born January 10, 1903.  International Champion.  Peak in 1928.  Elected May 11, 1963 at Chicago, Illinois.  Submitted by the Northern New York Association and Eugene Lynch.

CHARLES JEWTRAW  Born May 5, 1900.  Died January 26, 1996.  Olympic Champion.  Peak in 1924.  Elected May 11, 1963 at Chicago, Illinois.  Submitted by the Northern New York Association and Eugene Lynch.

BEN O'SICKEY  Born August 19, 1894.  National and International Champion.  Peak in 1916.  Elected May 11, 1963 at Chicago, Illinois.  Submitted by Jack Howlett.

BOBBY McLEAN  Born 1895.  World Champion.  Peak 1917.  Elected May 16, 1964 at Lake Placid, New York.  Submitted by the Amateur Skating Association of Illinois and Richard P. McCarter.

JOE MOORE  International Indoor Champion.  Peak 1924.  Elected May 16, 1964 at Lake Placid, New York.  Submitted by Middle Atlantic Association and John T. Egan.

KIT KLEIN  Born March 28, 1910.  Peak 1936.  Olympic and World Champion.  Elected May 16, 1964 at Lake Placid, New York.  Submitted by Western New York Association and Albert Abgott.

JOHN NILSSEN  Born July 8, 1877.  World Outdoor and Indoor Champion.  Peak 1900.  Elected May 15, 1965 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Submitted by Dr. Milan Novak.

HARLEY DAVIDSON  Born 1880.  U.S. Outdoor Champion 1910.  Peak 1910. Elected May 15, 1965 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Submitted by Eastern Minnesota Association and Clarice Mattson.

DOROTHY FRANEY LANGKOP  Born 1915.  National Outdoor and North American Indoor Champion.  Peak 1936.  Elected May 15, 1966 at Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Submitted by Dr. Milan Novak.

MADELINE "MADDY" HORN  Born June 10, 1911.  National Outdoor and Indoor and North American Outdoor and Indoor Champion.  Peak 1939.  Elected May 14, 1966 at Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Submitted by Joe Heifert.

HARRY KAAD  Born 1888. Western and Illinois State Champion.  Peak 1914.  Elected May 14, 1966 at Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Submitted by the Amateur Skating Association of Illinois and Dr. Milan Novak.

CHARLES T. FISHER  Born 1886.  Western Indoor and Outdoor Champion.  Twelve times Wisconsin State Champion.  Peak in 1910.  Elected May 18, 1967 at Detroit, Michigan.  Submitted by Eugene McGrath.

IRVING JAFFEE  Born 1906.  Won two Olympic gold medals in 1932.  Set World's record in one mile in 1928.  Peak in 1932.  Elected May 18, 1967 at Detroit, Michigan.  Submitted by Eugene Lynch and Mildred Egan.

KENNETH BARTHOLOMEW  Born February 10, 1920.  National Outdoor Champion 14 times.  Olympic medalist in 1948.  Peak 1956.  Elected May 18, 1968 at St. Louis, Missouri.  Submitted by Minnesota Association and L. F. Maday.

LEO FREISINGER  Born February 7, 1916.  National and North American Outdoor Champion.  Olympic medalist in 1936, coach of U.S. Team in 1964.  Peak 1940.  Elected May 18, 1968 at St. Louis, Missouri.  Submitted by Eugene McGrath.

ELSIE MULLER McLAVE  Born November 25, 1895.  National and North American Outdoor and Indoor Champion.  Peak 1931.  Elected May 18, 1968 at St. Louis, Missouri.  Submitted by Middle Atlantic Association and Mildred Egan.

LORETTA NEITZEL  Born February 11, 1908.   She died Aug 21, 2007, in Venice, Fl. at the age of 99.   National Outdoor and Indoor Champion.  Peak 1930.  Elected May 18, 1968 at St. Louis, Missouri.  Submitted by Roy Helminski and Eugene Lynch.

EDWARD SCHROEDER  Born 1911.  Member of 1932, 1936 and 1940 Olympic Teams, North American Outdoor Champion.  World medalist four times.  Olympic team coach in 1960.  Peak 1936.  In recent years Edward was able to continue to be a part of the Olympic movement by serving as an Olympic torchbearer for the Atlanta Summer Games and more recently the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.  Edward died December 1, 2005.  Elected May 18, 1968 at St. Louis, Missouri.  Submitted by Dr. Milan Novak.

PATRICIA GIBSON MARSHALL  Born January 2, 1935.  National Outdoor Champion 5 times.  Peak 1956.  Elected May 17, 1969 at Anaheim, California.  Submitted by Madison Skating Club and Wisconsin Association.

DELBERT LAMB  Born October 22, 1914.  World 500 meter gold medalist.  Member of Olympic teams and coach in 1956.  National referee.  Peak 1948.  Elected May 17, 1969 at Anaheim, California.  Submitted by Wisconsin Association and Eugene McGrath.

CARMELITA LANDRY BERNARD  Born July 1, 1917.  National and North American Outdoor Champion.  Peak 1942.  Elected May 17, 1969 at Anaheim, California.  Submitted by Eugene Lynch.

JOHN WERKET  Born 1924.  World gold medalist 4 times, silver medalist 4 times.  World team coach in 1967.  Peak 1950.  Elected May 17, 1969 at Anaheim, California.  Submitted by Clarice Mattson.

KEN HENRY  Born January 7, 1929.  Member of 3 Olympic teams and coach in 1968.  Olympic gold medalist in 500 meter in 1952 and in World meets in 1949 and 1952.  Torch bearer for U.S. in 1960 Olympic Winter games.  Peak 1952.  Elected May 24, 1970 at Buffalo, New York.  Submitted by Dr. Milan Novak.

ARTHUR MATHEW LONGSJO  Born October 23, 1931.  Died September 16, 1958.  Cyclist and speed skater in Olympic games in 1956.  North American Outdoor Champion.  Peak 1956.  Elected May 24, 1970 at Buffalo, New York.  Submitted by Eugene Lynch and Northeastern Skating Association.

J. O'NEIL FARRELL  Born August 28, 1906.  Member of 2 Olympic teams and coach in 1936.  Bronze medalist in 1928 Olympic games.  National Outdoor Champion.  Peak 1928.  Elected May 16, 1971 at Lake Placid, New York.  Submitted by Edward Schroeder and the Amateur Skating Association of Illinois.

WILLIAM D. DISNEY  Born April 3, 1932.  Member of Olympic team and silver medalist in 1960.  National and North American Indoor Champion, National official, promoter and team coach.  Peak 1960.  Elected May 16, 1971 at Lake Placid, New York.  Submitted by Larry Pearce and Southern California Skating Association.

MARY NOVAK SAND  Born February 17, 1938.  Eighteen times National and North American Outdoor and Indoor Champion.  Set 7 National outdoor and indoor records.  Organized and coached several new skating clubs.  Co-author of promotional literature and first skater to win National Outdoor Championship in all classes Midget through Senior.  Peak 1960.  Elected May 14, 1972 at Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Submitted by Eugene Lynch and John Egan, Jr.

EDGAR J. DAME, JR.  Born December 10, 1927.  North American Indoor Champion.  Set 7 National Indoor Records.  Peak 1953.  Elected May 14, 1972 at Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Submitted by Eugene Lynch.

JEANNE ASHWORTH WALKER  Born July 1, 1938.  Peak 1961.  Fourteen times National and North American Indoor and Outdoor Champion in the Senior Class.  Olympic bronze medalist in 500 meter in 1960.  Set 10 National Indoor records.  Elected May 3, 1975 at Madison, Wisconsin.  Submitted by Eugene Lynch and Northern New York Association.

BARBARA MARCHETTI DESCHEPPER  Born May 7, 1930.  Peak 1955.  Twelve times National and North American Outdoor and Indoor Champion in the Senior Class.  Set 5 National Indoor records.  Elected May 15, 1976 at Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Submitted by Dr. Milan Novak.

DON McDERMOTT  Born December 9, 1929.  Peak 1952.  Olympic silver medalist in 500 meter in 1952,  World's bronze medalist in 1955.  Flag bearer at Olympic games at Squaw Valley in 1960.  Elected May 15, 1976 at Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Submitted by Mildred Egan and the Middle Atlantic Association.

RICHARD "TERRY" McDERMOTT  Born September 20, 1940.  Peak 1964.  Olympic 500 meter gold medalist in 1964 and silver medalist in 1968.  National and North American Indoor Champion.  Set 2 National Outdoor records.  Promoter and officer in USISA.  Elected June 4, 1977 at Bay City, Michigan.  Submitted by Mike Sturm and the Michigan Association.

KENNETH B. LEBEL  Born July 26, 1937.  Peak 1956.  National and North American Indoor Champion and North American Outdoor Champion.  Set three National Indoor records.  Member of 1962 World Hockey Team.  Won four World Outdoor and three World Indoor Barrel Jumping Championships.  Elected May 19, 1979 at Saratoga Springs, New York.  Submitted by Eugene Lynch and Pat Peaslee.

MARY MEYERS ROTHSTEIN  Born February 10, 1946.  Peak 1964-68.  National Indoor and Outdoor Champion.  North American Outdoor Champion.  World Team member several times, winning gold medal in 500 meter in 1967.  Olympic 500 meter silver medalist in 1968.  Developer, coach and promoter of Northern Lights Association for novice skaters.  Elected May 17, 1980 in Bloomington, Minnesota.  Submitted by Clarice Mattson and Eastern Minnesota Skating Association.

EDWARD L. MURPHY  Born February 1, 1905.  Peak 1932.  Olympic team member in 1928 taking 5th in 1500 meter.  Olympic 5000 meter silver medalist in 1932.  Elected May 16, 1981 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

LORRAINE SABBE  Born 1927.  Died 1966.  Peak 1948-49.  Two times National Outdoor and North American Indoor Champion.  First woman to win both championships two years straight.  Set four North American Indoor records in 1949.  Officer of Michigan Skating Association.  Elected May 15, 1982 at Bloomington, Minnesota.  Submitted by Michigan Skating Association.

JEANNE OMELENCHUK  Born March 25, 1931.  Passed away June 2008.  Ten times National and North American Outdoor champion in the Senior Class (1957-1965); twice U.S. Open champion; four times U.S. World Team member; three times Olympic Team member (1960, 1968, 1972).  Set four National Outdoor Records.  First woman to win a National title in more than one major sport.  Won six National Bicycle Racing titles.  Elected May 19, 1984 at Northbrook, Illinois.  Submitted by Stephen B. Cohen.

DR. MICHAEL P. PASSARELLA  Born July 5, 1946.  Two time National Outdoor Champion in the Senior Class (1967, 1974); eleven times National Team member; Olympic team member (1968).  Set four National Outdoor records and one Can-Am Games record.  Elected May 19, 1985 at Albany, New York.  Submitted by the Amateur Skating Association of Illinois.

JOHN WURSTER  Born January 12, 1948.  National Outdoor and North American Indoor Champion in the Senior Class (1976).  Seven times National Team member; World Sprint Team member (1970); two times Olympic Team member (1968, 1972).  Set one National Outdoor and one North American record.  Elected May 19, 1985 at Albany, New York.  Submitted by Patricia A. Peaslee, Gail Brophy and Northern New York Skating Association.

PETE CEFALU  Born February 25, 1948.  Peak 1970.  Won 6 National Outdoor and 1 National Indoor Championships.  Set 9 National Outdoor and 2 National Indoor records.  Elected May 17, 1986 at Cleveland, Ohio.  Submitted by Lorraine Garbe and the Wisconsin Skating Association.

DANIEL J. IMMERFALL  Born December 14, 1955.  Member of the 1976, 1980, and 1984 U.S. Olympic teams.  Won numerous World Medals.  Gold medal winner at World Sprint Championships in 1973 at Oslo, Norway, at 500 meters.  Bronze medal winner at 500 meters in 1976 Olympics at Innsbruck, Austria.  Set Junior World record of 39.35 seconds at 500 meters in Italy in 1976.  Elected May 15, 1987 at Southgate, Michigan.  Submitted by the Wisconsin Skating Association.

MICHEL CONROY  Born August 28, 1951.  Won six National and North American Championships in the senior division while setting four records.  In 1974, she won the North American Indoor while setting records in the 400 and 800 meter events.  She concluded her championship career by winning the National Indoors in Champaign in 1975 and set a record at 3/4 miles.  Elected May 15, 1987 at Southgate, Michigan.  Submitted by Eastern Minnesota Skating Association.

PETER A. MUELLER  Born July 27, 1954.  An accomplished pack style skater both indoor and outdoor.  Won the gold medal at 1000 meters and set an Olympic record at the 1976 Games at Innsbruck, Austria.  First medal won at other than 500 meters since the creation of the Winter Games except for the pack style competition at the Lake Placid Games in 1932.  Elected May 13, 1988 at Arden Hills, Minnesota.  Submitted by Paul Mueller, Lorraine Garbe, Mary Sand and the Wisconsin Skating Association.

CELESTE CHLAPATY SCHULTZ  Born April 20, 1954.  Competed for 14 years in pack style skating.  National and North American Indoor Champion in 1973, and National Indoor Champion in 1976 and 1977.  Won the first World Short Track Competition in 1976 at Champaign, Illinois.  Elected May 20, 1989, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

ERIC ARTHUR HEIDEN  Born June 14, 1958.  Started competition in pack style skating and won the National Indoor and Outdoor Championships as a midget.  First medal in metric skating was a bronze in 1975.  Won a gold and two silvers in 1976 at the Junior Worlds and a gold at the Worlds.  In 1977, he made a sweep, never before done, by winning the Junior Worlds, the World Sprints, and the Worlds.  Won Junior Worlds in 1978 with four gold medals and won the Worlds with three gold medals.  His winning all five events and setting 4 Olympic records at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics has never been equaled.  Elected May 20, 1989 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Submitted by Mary Novak Sand and Lorraine Garbe.

DIANE L. (WHITE) WYNNE  Born April 26, 1943.  Won the North American Outdoor in 1955 in her first year of competition.  Won the National Indoor as a senior in 1962, 1965 and 1966 and the National Outdoor in 1964 and 1966.  Member of the U. S. National Team 1965-68.  An intense competitor who devoted her talents and experience to coaching after her competitive days.  Elected May 19,1990 at Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Submitted by Don Anderson.

ALAN RATTRAY  Born March 19, 1955.  National Indoor Champion in 1974 and 1976 as a senior.  Won first World Short Track Competition in 1976, in Champaign, Illinois.  Gold medal winner in 500 meter at ISU Short Track Championships in 1978, placing him 3rd overall.  Elected May 19, 1990 at Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Submitted by Mary Novak Sand.

RICHARD WURSTER  Born August 27, 1942.  National Long Track Champion as a senior in 1965, 1966 and 1975, and runner-up in 1970 and 1971.  U. S. Open Long Track Champion in 1969 and 1970.  North American Long Track Champion in 1971 and 1975.  Set numerous national records at distances of 880 yards and longer.  Member of U. S. World team in 1965 and 1968 and the U. S. Olympic Team in 1968.  elected May 18, 1991, at Southgate, Michigan.  Submitted by Luke Sheremeta.

SARAH DOCTER-WILLIAMS  Born May 10, 1964.  Short Track Midget National Champion  in 1975 and 1976. Long Track National Champion in 1976.  Juvenile Short Track Co-Champion in 1977.  In 1978, she won Long Track and Short Track National Championships.  On World Short Track Team in 1978 and won the 1500 and 3000 meter events along with being on the champion relay team.  Overall Junior World champion in 1981 winning three golds and setting records in each race.  Member of the 1980 Olympic Team.  Elected May 16, 1992, at St. Louis, Missouri.  Submitted by Jeff FitzRandolph.

ANNE HENNING  Born September 6, 1955.  Started skating in 1964 and was National Short Track Champion as a midget in 1967.  Juvenile National Long Track Champion in 1969.  Switched to metric skating in 1970 and was a member of the World Team.  At Helsinki in 1971, she won the 500 meter race at the World Championship.  The World Sprint Championship at Inzell in 1971 saw her winning both 500 meter events.  At Davos that year she set World records of 42.5 and 1:27.3 at 500 meters and 1000 meters.  She concluded her career in 1972 at the Sapporo Games in Japan, by winning the gold at 500 meters and a bronze at 1000 meters.  Elected May 16, 1992, at St. Louis, Missouri.  Submitted by Robert R. Vehe.

LYDIA STEPHANS  Born October 19, 1960.  Inspired by watching Dianne Holum and Anne Henning on television compete at the 1972 Winter Olympics, she joined the Northbrook Skating Club in Illinois.  Three years after starting, she won the 1976 National Short Track Championship as a Junior and followed with the 1978 Championship as an Intermediate.  For five years starting in 1980, she was on eight World teams in both Long Track and Short Track.  In 1982, she won the National Short Track Championship as a Senior and 1983 the North American Short Track Championship.  She was a member of the 1984 Olympic Team and the World Sprint Team.  As a member of the World Short Track Team in 1984, she won a bronze medal in two events.  Lydia served as the National Short Track Coach at the U. S. Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan for the 1985-1986 season.  She served on the USISA Board of Directors from 1984-89.  Elected May 14, 1994 at Schaumburg, Illinois.  Submitted by Tom Healy.

WILLIAM T. LANIGAN  Born August 6, 1948.  He was the winner of 17 National/North American/U.S. Open Championships in Short Track and Long Track.  During 1964 through 1979, he set over 40 records in these championships.  In 1966, he began skating metric meets and over the next eight years he was a member of every National, World, CanAm, and Olympic team.  His highest achievement was in 1973 when he won the gold medal at 500 meters at the World Long Track Championships in Deventer, Holland. Skating!  Elected May 21, 1995 at Danvers, Massachusetts.

KIM KOSTRON NYQUIST  Born September 19, 1956. Kim started skating at age 5, but waited until she was 11 to compete.  After limited success in pack style Kim went to metric style after her Junior year.  Her peak year was 1977 when she won the Junior World Long Track Championship in Inzell, Germany, setting World records at 500 and 1000 meters and finishing second at 3000 and third at 1500 meters.  The same year, she won the 500 meter race at the World Sprint Championships.  Kim was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team and the World and World Sprint teams in 1979 and 1980.  Elected May 19, 1996 at Bloomington, Minnesota.

LIZA MERRIFIELD DENNEHY  Born July 24, 1961.  Started skating at age 5. Senior Women National Long Track champion 1981, 1982, 1989, and 1991.  North American champion in 1981.  Three National records.  U.S National Team member 1980 through 1984. Active in the organization of speed skating events since 1988.  Elected May 18, 1997 at St. Louis, Missouri.  Submitted by Dennis Marquard and the Hall of Fame Committee.

MARY BLAIR POLASKI   Born February 11, 1945.  Started skating at 10.  National Indoor Senior Champion in 1968 and 1981, the North American Indoor Senior Champion in 1969 and established 4 National records as a Senior.  Coach of the 1978 and 1979 World Short Track Team.  National Coach.  Elected May 17, 1998 at Wausau, Wisconsin.  Submitted by William Markland and Eleanor Blair.

MICHAEL WOODS Born May 15, 1952.  Started skating at 12. Senior National Outdoor Long Track champion in 1973.  World Championship medals in 1979–5000 meters-Silver; 1980–10,000 meters-Gold; 1984–10,000 meters-Silver.  Junior World Team 1972, World All Around Team 1974-1980 and 1984, World Sprint Team 1974 and 1977.  U.S. Olympic Team 1976, 1980, and 1984.  Competed while earning his M.D. degree.  Came back in 1984 after completing his residency.  Promoter and fund raiser.  Elected May 17 1998 at Wausau, Wisconsin.  Submitted by Lorraine Garbe and the West Allis Speedskating Club.

DAN JANSEN Born June 17, 1965.  From 1983 through 1994 one of the top speed skaters in the World.  Junior World Speed Skating Championship 1983 gold medal, 500 m.  5 gold, 5 silver, and 5 bronze medals at World Sprint Championships 1985-1994.  World Sprint champion in 1988 and 1994.  5 times World record holder at 500 and 1000 m.  Olympic team member 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1994.  Olympic gold medal at 1000 m in 1994 with an Olympic record.  Holder of over 40 individual World Cup victories.  Holder of 7 overall World Cup titles.

TOM PLANT Born November 6, 1957.  Member of World Junior Speed Skating team, 1978, World Sprint team, 1979 and 1980, World Speed Skating team, 1980, and Olympic team, 1980.  Gold medal, 500 meters, bronze, 1000 m in 1980 World Sprint Championship, silver medal in 1980 World Speed Skating Championship.

PATRICK WENTLAND: Three times National Short Track Champion and two time North American Short Track Champion, (Senior class) 1988-1993. World Team Member 1987, 1992; set a number of records and finished 4th at World Short Track Championships in Denver, CO, 1992. Eastern Regional Coach for Short Track, 1993; appointed Assistant Coach in 1997, Head Coach in 1998. Team Leader, 1998 Olympic Team.  A member of the International Coaching Committee since 1999.   Elected May 19, 2001, at Albany, New York.

BRIAN ARSENEAU  Brian won the National Short Track Championship six times in the Senior Class.  Along the way, he established numerous National records at each of the distances contested: 500 meters (4 records), 777 meters (2 records), 1000 meters (3 records), 1500 meters (4 records), and 3000 meters (3 records).  Brian also set North American records at 777 meters, 1000 meters, and 1500 meters.  Brian was a member of the 1988 Olympic team; eight time World Team member (1986-1993); and three time World University Team member (1985, 1989, 1991).  Brian competed in five Olympic Festivals between 1981 and 1991 winning a total of 8 medals.  Brian served as the USISA Board of Control athlete representative between 1988 and 1992.  He was instrumental in establishing the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Marquette, Michigan in 1988.  Additional images: 1993; 1988, 2003

ANDY GABEL  Andy began winning National and North American Long Track and Short Track Championships as a Juvenile in 1979.  He was a member of the National Short Track Team from 1979 to 1998, the longest in U.S. Speedskating history in either Long or Short Track.  He was also a member of the National Long Track Team from 1981 to 1989.  As a member of the World Short Track Team between 1987 and 1998 Andy won over 75 international medals.  Andy is a four time Olympic Team member (1988, 1992, 1994, 1998) and holds a silver medal as a member of the 1994 5000 meter Short Track relay team.  Andy was elected to the U.S. Speedskating Board of Directors in 1994 as an athlete representative, to the Office of Vice President in 1999 and to President in 2002.  He has also served as a member of the ISU Short Track World Cup Management Commission (1998-2002), and is presently the Chairman of the ISU Short Track Technical Committee.  Andy was the Director of Figure Skating and Short Track speed skating for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.  Additional images:  1988, 1998

ERIC FLAIM  A four time Olympian (1988, 1992, 1994, 1998) and holder of two silver medals (1500 meter Long Track, 1988; 5000 meter Short Track relay, 1994), Eric is the first American to medal in two different winter Olympic sports.  Eric established  World records at 1500 meters in Long Track (unofficial, 1988 Olympics) and 1500 meters Short Track (1993 World, Beijing, China).  Between 1983 and 1995 Eric won numerous Long Track and Short Track championships, including the USISA Championships (Long Track 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, Short Track 1994, 1995), World All-Around Championship (1988), 1500 meters overall World Cup Championship (1992) and was consistently near the top year after year.  Eric retired after the 1995 season  to return and qualify as a member of the 1998 Olympic Team where he was selected flag bearer for Opening Ceremonies.  Eric has been the President of the Northeast Speedskating Association since 2000 and served as the U.S. Speedskating Short Track Program Director between 1998 and 2000.  He established the Eric Flaim Foundation in 1998 to foster the development of programs to enrich children’s lives through sport.  Eric is currently the U.S. Speedskating Eastern Regional Coach.  Additional images: 1988

KRISTEN TALBOT:  Kristen was an accomplished skater in both Long Track and Short Track competition.  She won her first National Short Track Championship in 1985 as a Juvenile.  She went on to win National Championships in Long Track as a Junior (1986) and a Senior (1991, 1993) and in Short Track as an Intermediate (1988, 1989).  She was a member of the Junior World Long Track Team (1989, 1990) the World Short Track Team (1989) and thee Olympic Long Track Teams (1988, 1992, 1994).  Kristen captured a Silver Medal at 500 meters as a member of the 1990 Junior World Long Track Team. Kristen was born into a Speedskating family.  Both her maternal grandparents were speed skaters as well as both her parents and her brothers.  Kristen started skating at the age of 2 and competing at 4.  Her Grandfather, Vernon Green, flooded his back yard for a skating rink for her to learn to skate and later on took her skating to  the local rinks.  Kristen has contributed in a very positive way to the sport of speed skating. She always exhibits a sense of good sportsmanship and fair play. She has always taken the time to help younger skaters and has been a good role model for them as well as a good representative for her sport. After retiring from active competition she has continued to contribute to the sport as a coach and athlete representative.  Elected April 24, 2004, at Saratoga Springs, New York

DANIEL J. CARROLL:  Dan was the U.S. premier middle and long distance skater following Bill Lanigan and preceding Eric Heiden.  His peak came in 1975 when he won two World Championship medals.  During his competitive career, Dan was a member of five World Championship teams between 1970 and 1976, five World Sprint Championship teams in this same period, and three Olympic teams (1968, 1972, and 1976).  In addition to the medals mentioned above, Dan won a World Championship medal in 1971 and achieved two top 10 overall World Championship finishes and six top 10 finishes in Olympic competition.  Dan began skating at the age of 12.  He moved into long track skating four years later.  Dan was one of the first skaters to fully embrace a year-round speed skating specific training regimen, combining dry land training, interval and long distance running, and weight training.  Following his retirement from competition in 1976, Dan began coaching for the Midway Club in St. Paul.  Dan served as the team leader for a number of U.S. skaters during the 1979 European fall on-ice training and was selected to lead several training camps for USISA, the predecessor of U.S. Speedskating, in Squaw Valley and Colorado during this period.  Dan resumed his coaching career in St. Louis in 1993 where he developed and fostered a solid year-round training program, leading at least two dry land training sessions a week during the summer months and coaching several on-ice workouts each week during the winter skating season.

NICK THOMETZ:  Elected to the Hall of Fame in 2003, Nick’s induction was delayed by a year to enable him to attend both the birth of his son Sam Christafor born April 21, 2004 and his induction ceremony.  Nick Thometz skating accomplishments are legendary.  He was a member of two Junior World teams, 2 World teams, eleven World Sprint teams and three Olympic teams, earning two overall top 10 finishes in the Junior Worlds, seven top 10 overall finishes including one second overall in the World Sprints, and achieved three top 10 finishes in Olympic competition.  In seven World Cup seasons, Nick ranked in the top 3 at 500 and 1000 meters for the 1985-86, 1986-87, and 1987-88 seasons.  During his skating career, Nick won medals in three Junior World Championship, one World Championship, five World Sprint Championships and in over 40 World Cups.  He established a World Record of 36.55 seconds for 500 meters on March 19, 1987 in Heerenveen.  Following his retirement from competition, Nick turned to coaching.  He was National Team Coach between 1993 and 1997.  He also served as the 1998 U.S. Speedskating Olympic Team Leader and Director of Long Track Speedskating events for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.

AMY PETERSON:   Amy first began figure skating at the age of three but soon started in speedskating as well; she continued to participate in both sports until the age of 14.  Amy skated both long track and short track before eventually concentrating on short track.  Amy was a member of 16 World Teams, was U.S. Short Track Champion nine times (1993-96, 1998-2002), was a five-time Olympian (1988, 1992, 1994, 1998, and 2002) and three-time Olympic medalist (relay, silver, 1992; 500m and relay, bronze, 1994), as well as a member of the American record 3000-meter relay team (4:20.730, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2/20/02).  Amy was named as U.S. Speedskating Athlete of the Year in 1998 and 1999 and had the honor of being the U.S. flag bearer at the Opening Ceremonies at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake.  Amy has served on the Athlete’s Advisor Council to the USOC, as well as an Athlete Representative on the USS Board of Directors.  She turned to coaching in Spring 2002 and was named the USS Northern Regional Coach, producing 2 Junior World Team members in three years. She was named the U.S. Speedskating Development Coach of the Year in 2005 before returning to skating that year and qualifying for the 2006 World Team to compete her 16th World Short Track Championships held in Minneapolis.  Elected April 22, 2006 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

EDWARD "EDDIE" RUDOLPH  Edward "Eddie" J.  Rudolph  Son of Edward Rudolph Sr., Eddie was a member of the 1960, 1964 and 1968 Olympic teams and competed in the 1962 World competitions in Russia as the only U.S. competitor. He was the youngest male to ever make a Speed Skating Team in 1960.  In 1963, in Karasawa, Japan, he won two silver medals in the 500-meter and set a world record.  He has won the Intermediate National Short Track Championship; the Intermediate & Senior National Long Track Championship; and the Intermediate and Senior National, North American and U.S. Open Long Track Championship. Eddie coached the Broadmoor Speed Skating Club in Colorado Springs, volunteered to help in building the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center, served as treasurer for the U.S. Olympians, Colorado Chapter, and was awarded the highest volunteer award for working with Goodwill Industries of Colorado Springs for years, with more than $1 million in pro bono activities and direct financial support.  "One thing about making an Olympic team," said Rudolph, "it does provide a spirit, commitment and the drive to succeed. It's our bond and a valuable one."

NANCY SWIDER-PELTZ, SR. Nancy Swider-Peltz, Sr. was the first four-time U.S. Winter Olympian. She's a two-time World Record holder and has competed in eight Olympic Trials. Nancy began skating at age of 13 and skyrocketed to success shortly after. She won the Short Track Nationals at 16 and 17, the pack-style Long Track Nationals at 18 and made her first Olympic team in 1976 at 19. She set her first World Record in the 3000m that same year, and secured a second in the 10,000m in 1980. Nancy made the 1980, 1984 and 1988 Olympic Teams, the last with her one-year-old daughter, Nancy Jr., in tow. In between growing her family, Nancy continued to compete. She participated in four more Olympic Trials - 1992, 1994, 1998 and 2002 - for a total of eight Olympic Trials in four decades. At the 2002 Olympic Trials, at the age of 45, she was paired with her daughter Nancy Jr., age 14. That same year she set four personal bests and currently holds five age-group World Records. Nancy has coached five skaters to Olympic Teams since 1988 and has been the head coach of the Park Ridge Speedskating Club since 1985.

DAVID CRUIKSHANK:   David Cruikshank always wanted to play professional soccer. As a member of the Glenbrook North High School soccer team since his freshman year, Dave assumed he would play soccer in college and eventually move to Europe to compete internationally. But after he won the Men’s 500m at the 1987Junior World Speedskating Championships in Stromsund, Sweden, he decided to change the focus of his goal.
Born in Chicago on January 11, 1969, and playing hockey since the age of 7, Dave was introduced to speedskating through the Northbrook Speedskating Club, which has turned out more speedskating Olympians than any other club in the country, including Andy Gabel, Leah Poulos Mueller and Edward Rudolph. Once he realized how fast he could skate, Dave was hooked.  “We had good coaching and passionate parents,” he says. “The whole Chicago area was great. There was an incredibly strong tradition at Northbrook. I liked it and I liked the speed.”
Soon he was competing in speedskating events every weekend, learning how to race while fine-tuning his technique and strategy. After winning multiple national championships for indoor/outdoor pack style speedskating, Dave was named to the World Short Track Team in 1986 and made his first Olympic team as a long track skater in 1988.  and made his first Olympic team as a long track skater in 1988.
Dave participated in four Olympic Games, from Calgary in 1988 to Nagano in 1998, but his favorite Olympic venue was in Lillehammer, Norway in 1994. “Lillehammer was by far the best,” he says. “The Olympic Village was a little more quaint, the food was good and the rink was fantastic. All around, Norway was the best.”  He also enjoyed competing at Olympic events with his teammate and girlfriend, Bonnie Blair. They had been skating together since they were children and in 1995, Dave proposed to her at Lake Geneva.
After participating in numerous World Championships, World Cups, Olympic and national events for 16 years, Dave retired from competition and started his company, DC Hybrid Skating, LLC. This high-performance hockey training program, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the Pettit National Ice Center, allows him to help athletes reach their potential.
Dave attributes speedskating with teaching him discipline, time management and how to develop a strong work ethic. He hopes the skaters coming up through the ranks today are skating for right reasons—not just to make an Olympic team or win medals.
“They need to enjoy the journey, train with urgency, and compete like every race is the Olympics,” Dave says. “If you train smart, give 100% everyday, and skate with passion good things will happen.”
Dave graduated “magna cum laude” in business management business management from Carroll College in 2003and currently serves on the US Speedskating Board of Directors as an Athlete Representative. He enjoys spending time with his wife, his daughter Blair (7) and his son Grant (9).
He is honored and excited to be chosen as an inductee into the National Speed Skating Hall of Fame and is grateful for the lessons he learned as a skater and the lessons he teaches future athletes.  “I always had the drive to know what I wanted to do,” Dave says. “It’s a great honor [to be inducted into the Hall of Fame] and I’m sure there are some people who are more deserving than I am. It’s very humbling.”  Inducted at Bethlehem, PA, on April 19, 2008.

FLOYD C. BEDBURY:   Not happy with his first pair of hockey skates as a child, Floyd Bedbury searched for something different. When he saw a set of speedskates, he knew he’d found exactly what he wanted. Although his mother thought the skates looked too dangerous, Floyd cried until she gave in and he soon became the only hockey player on speedskates.  Born on July 24, 1937 in St. Paul, MN, Floyd took to speedskating easily. As a 9-year-old, and without parental permission, he walked two miles to a speedskating event and came home with a third place medal. Six years later, Floyd was winning national events and looking forward to greater things.
 He held the state Senior records for five distances in long track and two national records for short track distances. In fact, Floyd was the first person to skate a short track mile in less than three minutes. He skated with the Midway Speedskating Club for almost 30 years.
 In 1955, he earned an alternate spot on the 1956 Winter Olympic Speedskating team and decided it was time to get serious. After graduating from high school, Floyd traveled to Hamar, Norway to train with skilled coaches in order to improve his technique and form. His arrival in Hamar was terrifying and lonely as he lived on $3 a day at the Hamar Youth Hostel.
 “My mother was going nuts because I was going over there and didn’t speak the language,” Floyd says. “I thought, ‘I’ve really cooked my goose this time. What am I going to do?’”  Luckily, the U.S. Ambassador to Norway befriended Floyd, helped him adapt to the country and gave him advice. Floyd’s skating career was taking off and in 1958, the ASU sent him to compete in the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland where he ended up placing fifth in the Men’s 500m. “It was pretty awe-inspiring,” he says about his competition in Helsinki. “It was so noisy in the stadium but very exciting.”
One year later, at the 1959 World Invitational in Squaw Valley, CA, Floyd shattered the 10,000m national record which had stood for 26 years. He reduced it by 26 seconds to 17:26 and set a U.S. record for the samalog. At the same event, he set national records in the 1500m (1:14.4) and the 5000m (8:15.3). Floyd earned a spot on the 1960 and 1964 Winter Olympics Teams held in Squaw Valley and Innsbruck, Austria respectively.
Now with the Twin City Speed Skating Club (formerly Shoreview Speedskating), Floyd coaches emerging speedskaters from his home in St. Paul. He volunteers almost 230 days a year and has the opportunity to coach many quality skaters. He feels blessed to have been able to touch the lives of so many young people and hopes his coaching helped teach them, not just about skating, but about life.  “Athletes are a group of people in the world who do get along and respect each other no matter which country they are from,” Floyd says. “If the world could get along like athletes, the world would be a better place. Keep national politics out of our sports.”  His individualized coaching techniques help each skater succeed at their own level and pace. He, and his wife Janet, enjoy the energy and friendship from each skater who crosses their path.
“I’ve got the most loving group I’ve ever run with in my life,” Floyd says. “We are a team who has fun and respect for each other no matter what level. This makes us a great team.”  Inducted at Bethlehem, PA, on April 19, 2008.
 
 

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