Dave Cruikshank facts for kids

David Wright "Dave" Cruikshank was born on January 11, 1969, in Chicago, Illinois. He is a famous American speedskater who competed in four Olympic Games. After his skating career, Dave became a coach for hockey players. He also owns a special training center called DC Hybrid Skating in Milwaukee, WI, where he helps athletes improve their skills.

Dave's Life and Family

Dave Cruikshank went to Glenbrook North High School. There, he played both baseball and soccer. Later, he studied Business Management at Carroll College and graduated with high honors.

Dave is married to Bonnie Blair, who is also a legendary speedskater. Bonnie won five Olympic gold medals and is one of the most successful female athletes in Olympic history. Dave and Bonnie got married when he was 27 and she was 32.

Dave's Speedskating Journey

Dave Cruikshank started his speedskating journey at a young age. When he was eight years old, he switched from playing ice hockey to speedskating. This happened in Northbrook, Illinois, a town well-known for producing many Olympic speedskaters.

In 1986, Dave joined the World Short Track Team. This was a big step in his career.

First Big Wins

In 1987, when Dave was just seventeen, he won the Junior World 500 meters race. This was his first major international competition in long track speedskating. Just one year later, he earned a spot on the 1988 Olympic Team. He did this by winning the 1,000 meters race at the Olympic Trials.

Olympic and World Championships

Dave's career continued to grow. In 1989, he won a medal at a World Cup event. He also placed 13th overall in his first World Sprint Championships.

Over the years, Dave Cruikshank competed in many more World Championship Teams. He also made three more Olympic Teams:

• 1992 Winter Olympics
• 1994 Winter Olympics
• 1998 Winter Olympics

Dave competed in international long track events for 16 years. In 2008, US Speedskating honored him by adding him to the US Speedskating Hall of Fame.

Olympic Results

Here are Dave Cruikshank's results from the Olympic Games:

Coaching Hockey Players

After he stopped competing in speedskating, Dave Cruikshank started a new career. In November 2002, he opened a special training center in Milwaukee, WI. This center helps ice hockey players improve their skating and overall performance. Dave uses his experience as an Olympic speedskater to train these athletes.