The 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York, may be best known for the U.S. men's hockey team and their inspiring gold medal performance. However, the speed skating competition at those games provided extraordinary moments and a well-decorated hero: the fast paced action of speed skating thrilled spectators with the record-breaking performance of American Eric Heiden.
Speed Skating Events
Speed skating at the 1980 Winter Olympics featured competitions for both men and women. The men raced at 500 meters, 1000 meters, 1500 meters, 5000 meters and 10000 meters. Women competed in three of the five distances covered by the men, skating a 3000-meter race -- instead of 5000 -- and excluding the 10000-meter event. All distances were contended on the long track, as short track speed skating didn't make its debut at the Olympics until 1988. A diverse collection of nations sent speed skaters including China, Romania, USSR, the U.S. and Mongolia, according to the book, "Speed Skating at the 1980 Winter Olympics."
Women's Medallists
Olympics.org reports that the four speed skating events held for the women resulted in four different gold medalists from four countries. Karin Enke of East Germany took the gold in the 500 sprint, while Soviet skater Natalya Petrusyova won the 1000 event. Annie Borckink won gold for the Netherlands in the 1500 with Norway rounding out the competition with Bjørg Eva Jensen winning the 3000. The United States managed a pair of silver medals from Leah Poulos-Mueller -- in the 500 and 1000 -- and one bronze in the 3000 with Beth Heiden.
Men's Competition
As chronicled in "Speed Skaters at the 1980 Winter Olympics," Norway was able to win four medals in men's skating -- two silvers and two bronze -- but they couldn't get their hands on a gold for one simple reason: Eric Heiden. Heiden, one of the great speed skaters in Olympic history won gold in all five events for the U.S. The Soviet Union was the only other country to win more than one medal in the men's events, with Canada and the Netherlands each managing a single medal finish.
Heiden's Legacy
Eric Heiden became the first athlete to score five gold medals in the same Olympics -- setting Olympic records in each of the five events, according to Olympic.org. Heiden concluded his skating career shortly after the Lake Placid games, turning to cycling where he raced professionally and took part in the 1986 Tour de France. Heiden followed his cycling career with medical school, where he specialized in orthopedics. He continues to follow speed skating, attending numerous Winter Olympics games since his triumph in 1980.
References
- "Speed Skaters at the 1980 Winter Olympics"; Books LLC (editor); 2010
- Olympic.org: Eric Heiden
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