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Bonnie Blair Biography

in full Bonnie Kathleen Blair

(1964–)

Speed skater. Born Bonnie Kathleen Blair on March 18, 1964 in Cornwall, New York. The youngest of six children, Bonnie Blair was raised in Champaign, Ilinois, and joined the national speed skating team after graduating from high school. She made a promising show at her first Olympics in Sarajevo at age 19, finishing eighth in the 500 meters.

In 1988, Bonnie Blair set a world record and captured her first Olympic gold in the 500 meters. That year, she also took the bronze in the 1000 meters. Blair continued to dominate the sport, winning gold in both events at the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville and at the 1994 Games in Lillehammer. The final win made Bonnie Blair the first American woman to win five gold medals and the first American of either sex to win gold medals in the same event in three consecutive Olympics.

Bonnie Blair continued to race after her Olympic victories, setting a record 38.99 in the 500 meters in 1994 and 1:18.05 in the 1000 meters in 1995. She was elected to the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 2004 and is the most decorated U.S. woman in winter Olympic history.

Bonnie Blair is married to Olympic speed skater Dave Cruikshank. After retiring from competitive speed skating in 1995, she became a motivational speaker and founded the Bonnie Blair Charitable Fund.