Amy Peterson facts for kids
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| Born | November 29, 1971 (age 53) Maplewood, Minnesota, U.S. |
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| Height | 5 ft 4 in | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Amy Peterson, born on November 29, 1971, is a famous American short track speed skater. She is known for competing in five Olympic Games in a row. Her Olympic journey started in 1988 and continued until 2002.
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Early Life and Skating Start
Amy Peterson was born in Maplewood, Minnesota. She went to Johnson Senior High School in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and finished school in 1990. Speed skating runs in her family! Her uncle, Gene Sandvig, was also an Olympic speed skater in 1952 and 1956.
Amy showed her talent early. At just 16 years old, she qualified for her first Olympic Games. This was the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. At that time, short track speed skating was a "demonstration sport." This means it was shown to people but no medals were given out.
Winning Championships
After her first Olympics, Amy continued to shine. In 1989, she won two big titles at the U.S. Olympic Festival. She was the champion in the 1,000 meters and 1,500 meters speed skating races. She also earned third place in the 500 meters.
In 2000, Amy had an amazing year. She won all four distances at the U.S. short track speed skating championships. She also qualified for the 2000 Winter Goodwill Games. She held the American record in the 1,000, 1,500, and 3,000 meters races. By 2001, she had won her eighth U.S. women's championship.
Overcoming Challenges
Amy faced a tough challenge when she dealt with chronic fatigue syndrome. This made her performance drop from being the top U.S. woman to eighth place. But she worked hard and made a strong comeback. She qualified for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, showing her determination.
By the end of the 2000–2001 season, Amy was ranked ninth in the world. She was also in the top ten for every distance she raced.
Olympic Highlights
Amy competed in the Olympics five times. She won three Olympic medals during her career.
- 1992 Albertville Olympics: She won a silver medal in the 3000 meter relay.
- 1994 Lillehammer Olympics: She earned two bronze medals. One was in the 500 meters race, and the other was in the 3000 meter relay.
At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, Amy had a special honor. She was chosen to carry the U.S. flag at the opening ceremony! This was a huge moment for her, and she planned for these Olympics to be her last. Although she didn't win a medal in 2002, her long career and dedication were truly inspiring.
Amy tried to qualify for her sixth Olympic Games in 2005 but did not make the team.
A Skating Family
Amy's family has a strong connection to speed skating. Her mother, Joan Sandvig, was a national-level speed skater. Her uncle, Gene Sandvig, competed in the 1956 Winter Olympics. Gene's daughter, Susan Sandvig, who is Amy's cousin, also became an international speed skater. It's clear that speed skating talent runs deep in their family!
