Eric Heiden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Eric Heiden

Heiden in March 2007
Personal information
Birth name	Eric Arthur Heiden
Born	(1958-06-14) June 14, 1958 (age 67) Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Education	Stanford University (BS, MD)
Height	6 ft 0+1/2 in
Weight	185 lb
Sport
Country	USA
Sport	Speed skating
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	500 m: 37.63 (1980) 1000 m: 1:13.60 (1980) 1500 m: 1:54.79 (1980) 3000 m: 4:06.47 (1980) 5000 m: 6:59.15 (1979) 10 000 m: 14:28.13 (1980)
Medal record Men's speed skating Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 1980 Lake Placid 500 m Gold 1980 Lake Placid 1000 m Gold 1980 Lake Placid 1500 m Gold 1980 Lake Placid 5000 m Gold 1980 Lake Placid 10000 m World Allround Championships Gold 1977 Heerenveen Allround Gold 1978 Gothenburg Allround Gold 1979 Oslo Allround Silver 1980 Heerenveen Allround World Sprint Championships Gold 1977 Alkmaar Sprint Gold 1978 Lake Placid Sprint Gold 1979 Inzell Sprint Gold 1980 Milwaukee Sprint

Eric Arthur Heiden (born June 14, 1958) is an American doctor and a former speed skater and cyclist. He is famous for winning five gold medals in speed skating at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, USA. This was a huge achievement, as he won every single speed skating event at those Games! He also set four Olympic records and one world record.

Eric Heiden was the most successful athlete at the 1980 Winter Olympics. He won more gold medals by himself than almost any other country. Many people consider him the best speed skater of all time. He was even ranked among the 50 greatest athletes of the 20th century by ESPN.

About Eric Heiden's Life

Early Life and Family

Eric Heiden was born in Madison, Wisconsin, on June 14, 1958. His father, Jack Heiden, was a surgeon. Eric's sister, Beth Heiden, was also a talented athlete. She competed in speed skating, cycling, and cross-country skiing.

In their hometown, Eric and Beth helped create a special place called the Heiden Haus. It's a small building where kids can warm up after skating or playing hockey on the ice rink. Eric graduated from Madison West High School in 1976.

Education and Medical Career

After his amazing sports career, Eric Heiden went to college. He studied at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of California, San Diego. Later, he went to Stanford University in California, where he earned a science degree in 1984. He then went on to medical school and became a doctor in 1991.

Eric became an orthopedic surgeon, which means he helps people with bone and joint problems. He worked as a team doctor for professional sports teams like the NBA's Sacramento Kings. He also served as the team physician for the U.S. Olympic speed skating team in several Winter Olympics.

In 2008, Eric Heiden co-wrote a book called Faster, Better, Stronger. It's all about exercise science and how to train. He also helped a speed skater named J.R. Celski recover from a serious injury. Celski was able to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics and won two bronze medals!

Eric Heiden's Sports Career

Speed Skating Achievements

Eric Heiden had a very successful, but short, speed skating career. He won the World Junior Speed Skating Championships twice, in 1977 and 1978. He also won three World Allround Speed Skating Championships and four World Sprint Speed Skating Championships. He was the youngest athlete to achieve these wins.

Heiden broke many world records during his career. He broke the world record for the 1000 meters three times, the 3000 meters twice, and the 1500 meters and 10000 meters once each. He was known for being great at both short and long-distance races.

Heiden was at the top of the Adelskalender, a ranking system for speed skaters, for a record 1,495 days. He also won the Oscar Mathisen Award four times in a row from 1977 to 1980. This award is given to the best speed skater of the year.

In 1980, he received the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States. He was inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990.

World Records Set by Eric Heiden

Eric Heiden set 15 world records during his speed skating career:

Cycling Career

After speed skating, Eric Heiden became a professional cyclist. He was one of the first athletes to switch from one major sport to another. He helped start the 7-Eleven Cycling Team, which was a new kind of team for North American riders.

Heiden competed in the 1986 Tour de France, one of the world's most famous bike races. He also won the first U.S. Professional Cycling Championship in 1985. In 1999, he was inducted into the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame.

Personal Life

Eric Heiden met his wife, Karen Drews, while they were both studying at Stanford. They got married in 1995 and have a daughter named Zoe, who was born in 2001. Karen is also a surgeon.

After his Olympic success, many companies wanted Eric Heiden to endorse their products. However, he turned down most of these offers. He preferred to live a more private life.

Heiden was asked to participate in the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He declined because he was not chosen to light the Olympic torch. The honor went to the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team instead. Heiden later said he didn't mean to disrespect the hockey team. He just felt that his own achievements weren't being recognized in the way he hoped.

Images for kids

• 

  Heiden in 1977

• 

  Heiden in 1977

• 

  Eric and Beth Heiden in 1977 in Alkmaar, the Netherlands

• 

  Heiden in 1980

See also

In Spanish: Eric Heiden para niños

• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists at a single Games
• List of Olympic medalist families