(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 . [39] The Blair Bunch, the name given to Blair's family and friends, accounted for 12% of the crowd at the Pettit National Ice Center. The second-place finisher, Ye Qiaobo of China, claimed to have been slowed down by an improper crossover from another skater. "He's the hardest worker on the team," Blair later told Angus Phillips in the Washington Post, "and he got me into that, too. "Bonnie Blue (now Bonnie Vaughn) lived across the street . Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Bonnie E. (Hankins) Blair. Blair was also the first American speed skater to win in more than one Olympic Games (1988, 1992, and 1994). St. Another problem for Blair was the lack of competition among the American women speed skaters in the late 1980s and early 1990s. bonnie blair siblings. Four of her siblings would hold speedskating titles. 5 What actress portrayed. There she won two more gold medals, for both the 500-meter and the 1,000-meter races. Despite unfavorable weather conditions at the outdoor rink, Blair won the 500-meter race. Bonnie Parker, outlaw partner of Clyde Barrow, was born at Rowena, Texas, on October 1, 1910, to Henry and Emma Parker. ABC-CLIO, 1996. (February 23, 2023). Bonnie Blair generally travels from Milwaukee, WI, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances . . Background Bonnie Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in Cornwall, New York, United States; the youngest of six children. I love to go fast and create the wind. Professionally, Charlie Blair was an engineer while Eleanor Blair worked in real estate. [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. New York Times (February 9, 1987): 166. Blair knew how to win and took advantage of it. With family members and dozens of friends, teammates, and fans cheering her on, Blair made her best start ever and zipped through the course in 39.1 seconds, setting a new world record and winning the gold medal. 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. "Bonnie Blair," Infoplease.com, http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0109013.html (March 10, 2003). In March 1995, shortly after winning the World Cup and setting a new world record in the 500-meter event, Blair retired from competitive speed skating. Known as "The Flying Finn" and "The King of Runners," he do, Bonnie and Clyde (Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow), Bonnevault, Pierre (ca. Christensen, Karen, et al., eds. And as far as skating goes, she's got a lot of class.". See also Alexander Wolff, "Bonnie's Bounty: Unassuming Bonnie Blair Sped to Victory in 1,000 Meters to Become the U.S.'s Most Gilded Woman Olympian Ever," Sports Illustrated (7 Mar. She won a number of races as a child, including the Illinois state championship when she was seven. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures, Skoblikova, Lydia Her winning time was slower than her record setting pace in Calgary, however, the venue in Albertville was outdoors creating conditions which were less conducive for speed skating. 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. TOP 22 QUOTES BY BONNIE BLAIR | A-Z Quotes Though Blair trained for the Olympics like they were any other meet, she dominated the trials in the 500, 1000, and 1500 meter races. During her gold medal-winning race, she also set a world's record with a time of 39.1 seconds. 12. [19] She followed up her World Cup titles in by setting her first world record in the 500 meters with a time 39.43 seconds. [26], Despite her success at the 1988 Olympics, Blair did not enjoy a windfall from endorsements. . [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. Speed skating coach Bob Fenn told Angus Phillips of Washington Post in 1992, "From a technical standpoint, she's the most efficient skater in the whole world. She also was a cheerleader and on student council. She continued to compete in part because there were only two years between these Olympic Games. She was a pupil at Jefferson Middle School and Centennial High School. She has five siblings. She also set a world record for the 500-meter event in Heerenveen, Holland, at the end of the 1987 season. [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. She was the daughter of Charlie and Eleanor Blair, who raised their large Catholic family in Champaign, Illinois. Blair lives in Delafield, Wisconsin, with her husband and their son Grant and daughter Blair. 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 is one of the top skaters of her era, and one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history. Speed skater who received Olympic gold medals in 1988, 1992, and 1994. Jenkins, Sally. 5x Olympic gold medalist Bonnie Blair Cruikshank trains the next crop She was the youngest of six children. Bonnie Blair (Speed Skater) Wiki, Biography, Age, Husband, Family, Net 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. Though she knew she was retiring, she left on top. "That's not to say I didn't have other great memories," she told Paula Parrish in the Rocky Mountain News, "but I think that had the biggest impact." At the Olympics, Blair was cheered on by her large extended family, including her parents, her brother Chuck, her sister Mary, along with Mary's husband and children, her sister Susie, her brother Rob and his wife and child, her sister Angela, and her uncle Lennie, along with the friends of all of her family members. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Bonnie Blair was married to Raymond W. Blair on May 7, 2004 in Johnson County, Texas. [27] Blair also took a break from skating, enrolling in Montana Technological University. In the 500-meter race she won her first gold medal, defeating the defending champion by .02 seconds and setting a new world record in the process. Bonnie Blairwas raised in Champaign, Illinois. "Retiring at Top Speed." Bonnie Blair-Cruikshank's 21-year old daughter, Blair, has tested positive for COVID-19 and will not be able to compete in this week's U.S. long track speedskating Olympic trials at the. Blair won the World Sprint Championships, then retired on March 18, 1995, after the competition held on her home ice in Milwaukee. "Bonnie the blue." Then she went out and bettered Rothenburger's time by two hundredths of a second to win her first gold medal. [44], In 1992, Blair became the third winter athlete to win the Sullivan Award. She was the most decorated Winter Olympian in U.S. history when she retired in 1995. Blair remained a popular figure in Champaign for many years, and was even given the key to the city. This allowed Blair to train seriously, including one stint with the U.S. men's speed skating team in Butte, Montana. [3] Early on, Blair competed in "pack style," or short track speed skating, where several skaters race on the ice at once. At the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, Blair again won both the 500- and 1,000-meter races. Compare DNA and explore genealogy for Bonnie (Blair) Roos born 1940s including ancestors + children + DNA connections + more in the free family tree community. And, as she told Barbara Matson in the Boston Globe, "Crossing that [finish] line was the happiest moment of my life.". By the time she was in grade school, speed skating had become her number-one leisure activity. When was Bonnie Parker born? Bonnie Blair Cruikshank talks US speed skating in Olympics - TMJ4 For her success, Blair was named the Babe Zaharis Female Amateur Athlete of the Year and sportswoman of the Year by Sports Illustrated for 1994. TSHA | Parker, Bonnie - Handbook of Texas A short biography of Blair is Cathy Breitenbucher, Bonnie Blair: Golden Streak (1994). Immediate Family: Daughter of ALONZA LONNIE RATLIFF and MAUDE RATLIFF. Reilly, Rick. Father's influence Anthony Charles Lynton Blair was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on May 6, 1953. She remained connected to speed skating by serving as a coach and conducting clinics. She was grateful for all of her successes, however, and for all the wonderful memories they gave her. She also won two gold medals at the '92 . She won the first American gold of the games when she won the 500 meter race. 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. 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. Perhaps one of the most decorated and honored female athletes of the twentieth century, Bonnie's accomplishments are extensive. No matter what the competition is, I try to find a goal that day and better that goal. Sports Illustrated (February 7, 1994): 90. Speed skating and also worked for the Olympic Committee. She was only 5'5" and 125-130 lbs. [36], The 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, were another success for Blair: She again won gold in the 500 meters (39.25) and 1,000 meters (1:18.74)[35] races.
Edsel Ford High School Graduation 2019, Articles B
Edsel Ford High School Graduation 2019, Articles B