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She lived in Whitesburg, Letcher, Kentucky, United States for about 10 . [5]:44 The breathing problem lingered through the 1991 World Sprint Championships where she finished fifth. In 1992, Blair received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement. They have two children. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bonnie-Blair, Bonnie Blair - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). She won gold at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. In addition, Blair was active in charity work and continued to do some commercial endorsements for companies like General Mills products at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Cruikshank's mother is five-time Olympic gold medalist Bonnie Blair and her dad is four-time Olympian Dave Cruikshank. Bonnie Blair of Champaign, IL, races in the women's 500 meter speed skating event at Hamar Olympic Hall in Hamar, Norway, Saturday, February 19, 1994. Her final, record-breaking time for the 500-meter sprint was 38.99 seconds. Realizing that success required both dedication and sacrifice, she gave up her spot on the Centennial High School cheerleading team to focus on skating and competitions. Born in Cornwall, New York on March 18, 1964 as the youngest of six children, her family moved to Champaign, Illinois and Bonnie first donned skates at the age of two and was competing as a speed skater by the age of four. Bonnie Blair She entered the Winter Games in Albertville, France, as the favorite in both events. Celebs Wiki Bonnie Blair fans also viewed: New York Times (February 19, 1995): section 8, p. 1. The 53-year-old champion has stayed close to the sport, serving on the Pettit's board of directors and promoting Milwaukee, which is hosting. [42] As of 2014, Blair worked as a motivational speaker and corporate spokesperson. Family (1) Spouse Dave Cruikshank (23 June 1996 - present) (2 children) Trivia (4) Inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2004. . She skated twice around the Pettit National Ice Center for a cheering crowd of ten thousand fans before lighting the Olympic caldron set up at the Center. She knows just a thing or two about U.S. speed skating and the rise of women's sports. private siblings' names; private children's names (1) spouse's name and marriage information; Background Bonnie Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in Cornwall, New York, United States; the youngest of six children. She did not win any medals, but it proved a valuable experience for her. I don't see any torture in this at all.". Bonnie Blair C and 7 others. Bonnie Parker has 2 siblings, a brother, and a sister. Bonnie Blair Dream, Distance, Accomplishment 11 Copy quote I never could have achieved the success that I have without setting physical activity and health goals. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. Blair lost focus for a while after the death of her father on December 25, 1989. [48][49], Blair began dating fellow Olympic speed skater Dave Cruikshank in 1990. Notable Sports Figures. This sensational run made Blair the top gold medalist at the festival. She was the daughter of Charlie and Eleanor Blair, who raised their large Catholic family in Champaign, Illinois. Priestner had been an Olympic medalist herself, winning silver when she represented Canada at the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, in 1976. Brownlee, Shannon. [5]:44 Confidence in coach Crowe had waned in the lead up to the 1988 Olympics, Blair helped to recruit Peter Mueller to coach the U.S. team. Blair's athletic achievements, combined with her friendly, down-to-earth manner, earned her recognition from journalists as an "All-American girl." ABC-CLIO, 1996. Her hard work paid off when in 1985, she won the U.S. sprint championship. These dramatic accomplishments earned her the 1992 Sullivan Award as the nation's leading amateur athlete and the 1992 U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) Sportswoman of the Year Award. Toronto Star, January 11, 1995; March 19, 1995. Atlanta Journal and Constitution, February 9, 1998. Matson, Barbara. [31], In her second event, the 1,500 meters, Blair finished 21st. Notable Sports Figures. Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in Cornwall, New York, the youngest of six children. [37] Blair won the 1992 Oscar Mathisen Award (being the first female winner of this award). Speed skating and also worked for the Olympic Committee. At the time, Blair trained in both short-track and long-track speed skating. She was grateful for all of her successes, however, and for all the wonderful memories they gave her. [32] Blair's gold made her the most decorated U.S. woman in Winter Olympics of all time. As Jere Longman wrote in the New York Times, "Blair has no mountains to climb. 1957- Death: May 16, 1976 (47) Prestonsburg, floyd, Kentucky, United States. . ." At fifteen, Blair was named to the U.S. speed skating team. 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. Blair finished fourth in a national sprint competition for cyclists. Russian speed skater Janofsky, Michael. Blair told Shannon Brownlee of Sports Illustrated, "Skating is a joy. [2][4] She completed her high school diploma through the mail in 1982. She has been married to Dave Cruikshank since June 23, 1996. Bonnie Elaine Lorenc (born Blair) was born on month day 1925, at birth place, Utah, to Leo Amos Blair and Myrtle Hannah Blair (born Christensen). Encyclopedia.com. In Champaign, I'd miss a workout or two. She ran wherever her coach decided he was missing a bodyon the long jump, high jump, short distances, and relays. [11] Blair had not been not considered a front-runner and later recalled she was happy just to be at the games and see her family in the stands. At the 1992 Games in Albertville, France, she captured the gold medal in both the 500- and 1,000-metre competitions, a feat that she repeated at the 1994 Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway. Occupation Singer Family Father - David Glyndwr Hopkins Mother - Elsie Hopkins . She dominated the sprint events at three Olympic Games (1988, 1992, and 1994), winning five gold medals and one bronze. Bonnie Blair owns a time-share in the international spotlight: She gets it for two weeks every Olympiad, and then they ask her to leave. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. Cruikshank had skated in four Olympics by 1998, and he narrowly missed qualifying for the U.S. team for the 2002 Olympics. Encyclopedia of World Biography. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. It was another first for a female athleteno other woman had ever won five Olympic gold medals for individual events. 23 Feb. 2023 . She was 16 years old when she began Olympic-style racing, which pits only two racers against each other in a competition based on time. Though the race was not great, in part because the ice surface was too warm, the victory made Blair the first woman to win gold in consecutive Winter Olympic games. Jenkins, Sally. . [8] With her increased focus on the 1984 Olympics, Blair went to train in Europe. ." [23], Blair went on to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, where her first event was the 500 meters. After the Albertville games ended, Blair again took the opportunity created by her celebrity. She is one of the top skaters of her era, and one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history. Phillips, Angus. So, the police department in Champaign stepped in to raise money for her trip, holding a series of raffles and bake sales. After the 1994 Olympics, Blair received more honors and product endorsement offers. All of Blair's two sisters and three brothers speed skated competitively because of their father. Her retirement from the sport, however, created a void in the talent pool of U.S. speed skaters that would be felt in the years to come. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. The victories led to more endorsements, and even more important to Blair, the popularity of speed skating. Blair competed for the United States in four Olympics, winning five gold medals and one bronze medal. Bonnie Pointer, a Grammy-winning singer and songwriter who was a founding member of vocal group the Pointer Sisters, has died at the age of 69. 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. [7] Blair topped her own World Record the following year, achieving a time of 38.69 on February 12, 1995 in Calgary. Newsday (February 6, 1994): 16. When Blair was sixteen, she competed at her first Olympic trials for the 1980 Winter Olympics. The youngster was named for a close family friend, who was also a skater. When Derek Parra set a new world record in the men's 1,500-meter speedskating competition at the 2002 Winter Olympics, h, Paavo Nurmi Petruso, A. ", Blair competed as a speed skater one more season following her last Olympic win. She dominated the sprint events at three Olympic Games (1988, 1992, and 1994), winning five gold medals and one bronze. "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." Sports Illustrated (February 17, 1992): 38. Parker, Bonnie (1910-1934). When Bonnie Blair was born on 1 March 1928, in Magoffin, Kentucky, United States, her father, Samuel Blair, was 46 and her mother, Louise Gambill, was 35. Blair trained every morning before school and her discipline paid off; at age fifteen she qualified for the U.S. Olympic trials, but narrowly missed making the team. [16] Blair won both the 500 meter and 1500 meter at the West Allis event, and was considered one of the U.S. team's strongest medal contenders. Bonnie Blair was born on 18 March, 1964 in Cornwall, New York, United States, is an American speed skater. American speed skater Mother of bonnie Fay wiszniewski; Private and Private. Winning doesn't always mean being first. With a new world record of 39.1 seconds, Blair became the first American woman since 1976 to win a gold medal in speed skating. Blair competed for the United States in four Olympics, winning five gold medals and one bronze medal. And, as she told Barbara Matson in the Boston Globe, "Crossing that [finish] line was the happiest moment of my life.". [23] U.S. speed skating failure to win a single medal at the 1984 Olympics added to the pressure and attention focused on Blair leading up to the 1988 games. . Johnson, Anne Janette. She and Apolo Anton Ohno are both world-famous speed skaters. Blair was the youngest of six children of Charlie, a civil engineer, and Eleanor Blair, a homemaker. New York Times (January 16, 2002): D7. She repeated her victories in both 500m and 1000m speed. bonnie blair siblingsmeadowglen lane apartments. Bonnie worked at the Sleezer Home in Freeport until retirement in 2016. 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. Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/bonnie-blair. In 1986 the International Olympic Committee decided to alternate the Summer and Winter Games every two years, moving the 1996 Winter Games to 1994. [37] Blair's success at Lillehammer placed her among the most decorate American Olympians of all time. [27] Holding Blair back from more advertisements was both her choice of sports, which was thought to be less marketable, and ABC's coverage of the games, which failed to resonate with viewers. "Blair, Bonnie She also was a cheerleader and on student council. [43] As of 2018, Blair serves on the board of the Pettit National Ice Center. A year later she captured her first World Short-Track Championship by winning three of the four events. She was only 5'5" and 125-130 lbs. American speed skater Bonnie Blair won six medals competing in three Winter Olympics Games, the second most medals won by a woman in the Winter Olympic Games (the first was Lydia Skoblikova ). Looney, Douglas S. "Bring back Bonnie." She dominated the 500-meter and 1,000-meter women's events at three consecutive Olympic Games during her career. Encyclopedia.com. She went to work coaching the U.S. women's speed skating team, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Showing Editorial results for bonnie blair. [14] After the 1984 Olympics, Blair worked closely with coach Mike Crowe to improve her skating skills to compete with the powerful East German skaters. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. 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. She won the first American gold of the games when she won the 500 meter race. (February 23, 2023). "Bonnie Blue (now Bonnie Vaughn) lived across the street . Bonnie Blair, in full Bonnie Kathleen Blair, (born March 18, 1964, Cornwall, New York, U.S.), American speed skater who was one of the leading competitors in the sport. Edwin Mosess athletic achievement is extraordinary by any standards. Sports Illustrated (December 19, 1994): 72. Since her retirement from competition in 1995 at the age of 31, she has turned her stellar Olympic performances into a successful career as a motivational speaker and corporate spokesperson. Chambers Biographical Dictionary. Bonnie Blair was born on March 18, 1964 in Cornwall, New York, USA. Speed skating. Blair won the World Sprint Championships, then retired on March 18, 1995, after the competition held on her home ice in Milwaukee. She did not medal, but finished eighth in the 500-meter race. American speed skater Bonnie Blair won six medals competing in three Winter Olympics Games, the second most medals won by a woman in the Winter Olympic Games (the first was Lydia Skoblikova). Encyclopedia.com. I love to go fast and create the wind. "Time after time." Blair came from a family of avid skaters and began entering races when she was four years old. Because an indoor training oval, Pettit National Ice Center, opened in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Blair moved there from Champaign. login . [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. But while skating eventually. As a teenager Blair began to take the sport more seriously. (February 23, 2023). Watch a short video featuring Bonnie Blair. Bonnie Blair was married to Raymond W. Blair on May 7, 2004 in Johnson County, Texas. All these elder siblings became a canopy of extra moms and dads under which Bonnie grew up. [50] The pair married in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1996. She was a member of four U.S. Olympic Speed Skating Teams, winner of five Olympic gold medals between 1988 and 1994 . Blair finished 0.36 seconds ahead of the second best time in the 500 meters. Bonnie Blair. To become an Olympic champion, Blair needed further training as well as racing experience on the long track. Join Facebook to connect with Bonnie Blair and others you may know. For nearly a decade betw, Heiden, Eric https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/bonnie-blair, "Bonnie Blair A short biography of Blair is Cathy Breitenbucher, Bonnie Blair: Golden Streak (1994). She surpassed her 1988 Olympic performance, taking home the gold medal not only in the 500-meter event, but in the 1,000-meter race as well. In addition to her ongoing endorsement commitments, Blair serves as a sports commentator on the ABC television network and sits on the board of directors of the U.S. speed skating team. Boston Globe (January 9, 2002): F7. "Blair has not Slowed Down: Family is her Life, Not Speed skating." [28], Following the 1988 Olympics, Blair also tried track cycle racing, and was coached by former speed skater and cycling world champion Connie Paraskevin. Bonnie Tyler is currently 71 according to her birthdate June 08, 1951 Sun Sign Gemini Born Place Skewen, Neath, Wales Nationality Education Bonnie decided to quit school to focus on her music career. American track and field athlete She made her competitive cycling debut in June 1989 at the Sundance Juice Sparkler Grand Prix. [19] Although Blair was four inches shorter than Enke-Kania, Blair's technique and fast start time made her a formidable competitor. The results were impressive. 5 What actress portrayed. [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. Dec 6, 2013. As a speed skater, Blair had exemplary technique which contributed to her success. It's fun to set goals, reach goals, reset goals. When Bonnie was still an infant, Charlie, who called the new baby "missy" because the pregnancy was a mistake, took a new job and moved the family to Champaign, Illinois, then considered a mecca for speedskating. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. Sports Illustrated (February 7, 1994): 90. [44] ." Leo was born on January 4 1898, in Bountiful, Davis, Utah, United States. [42] As of 2002, Blair served on U.S. Speedskating's board of directors. Bonnie Blair C Retweeted. [1] Her godmother is Canadian speed skater Cathy Priestner. [28] The win made Blair the first U.S. woman to win a world sprint championship in nearly a decade. Blair was also the first American speed skater to win in more than one Olympic Games (1988, 1992, and 1994). Rushin, Steve. Blair was touched by the adulations of the crowd, saying that she had never heard any group of spectators cheer so hard for her. Blair took up speed skating when she was two years old, joining a family of avid speed skaters. seventeenth century), https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/blair-bonnie, http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/blairbon.shtml, http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0109013.html, https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/bonnie-blair, https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/blair-bonnie, Begins competing as member of national speed skating team, Competes at the Olympic trials, but does not make team, Wins Olympic gold and bronze at Winter Olympic Games, Wins two Olympic golds at Winter Olympic Games, Retires from competitive speed skating; becomes motivational speaker, Marries speed skater Dave Cruikshank on June 23, Won Illinois state championship in speed skating for age group, Won gold medal in Olympics speed skating in 500 meters, Won gold medals in 500 meter and 1000 meter at Olympics in speed skating, Won gold in 500 meters at World Championships, Won gold medals in 500 meters and 1000 meters at Winter Olympic Games in speed skating; won gold in 500 meters and 1000 at World Sprint Championships and World Cup; named Babe Zaharis Female Amateur Athlete of the Year; named Sportswoman of the Year by Women's Sports Foundation, Set 500 meters speed skating world record at Calgary; retired in March as speed skater; named Sportswoman of the Year by Women's Sports Foundation; won world sprint championship, Given Sports Humanitarian Award, World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. Olympic speed skating competitions were conducted differently. 5-time Olympic gold medalist speedskater Bonnie Blair Cruikshank is still hitting the ice at 57-years-old. After the games ended, she received a number of commercial endorsements that funded her training, including Disney World and other commercials, though these opportunities were not as numerous or long-lived as originally hoped. Blair also won gold in the 1000 meter race. 2. Myrtle was born on July 26 1899, in Manassa, Conejos, Colorado, United States. Bonnie Blair was born in Cornwall, NY on March 18, 1964. Wolff, Alexander. She soon regained her form and confidence, winning dozens of 500- and 1,000-meter races leading up to the 1992 Olympics. She went on to ISU to get her degree in criminal justice. She signed with Advantage International, a sports marketing group, and did a number of commercials endorsements including Jeep, Evian, National Frozen Foods, and Rollerblades. She was the daughter of Charlie and Eleanor Blair, who raised their large Catholic family in Champaign, Illinois. [11] Her time was only 0.02 seconds faster than Ye. In 1993 and 1994, she won gold medals at the World Championships in 500 meters. She was named as the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year and the USOC Sportswoman of the Year. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. [28] She skipped the first two World Cup events of the 1989 season. Blair, under the weather with a cough and cold, finished second in the event. Blair also continued to improve her already great technique. They settled in Milwaukee, where Blair has spent much of her time on the Bonnie Blair Charitable Gift Fund and as a celebrity representative for Olympic sponsors. Blair made her Olympic debut in Sarajevo in 1984 where she finished eighth in the 500 meters. "Retiring at Top Speed." Blair was born in Cornwall, New York to Charlie and Eleanor Blair. She and her husband, fellow speed skater Dave Cruikshank, made their home in Milwaukee, and Blair kept up a heavy travel schedule, flying to different cities around the country to meet various corporate endorsement obligations. "History (Never) Lessens: Bonnie Blair was textbook good, and her legacy still is quoted chapter and verse." Blair continued competing through 1995 when the World Championships were held in Milwaukee, finally retiring in March 1995. Moving on, she has a net worth of approximately $1.5 million dollars. All of Blair's two sisters and three brothers speed skated competitively because of their father. [34][35] At the 1993 World Sprint Championships, Blair did not win any of her four races finishing behind rival Ye Qiabo. [10] Later that year, Blair appeared at her first Olympic games at age 19 in Sarajevo. Sports Illustrated (February 24, 1992): 18. [28] At the event, Blair won the 500 meters twice and finished third and second in two 100 meters races for an overall victory. She again won the world sprint title in 1994, also winning the World Cup 500- and 1,000-metre races that year. "The kids eat cereal on top of it," she told Parrish, "but it's got a heavy top, so nothing gets underneath." Bonnie Blair At the time, Blair worked as the secretary of the Retail Clerks International Union, which has since become part of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1529. She was the most decorated Winter Olympian in U.S. history when she retired in 1995. Though she knew she was retiring, she left on top. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The Life Summary of Bonnie. (b. Sports Illustrated (January 27, 1988): 236. Having gained five gold medals and one bronze medal in three Olympic Games, Blair became the most decorated female Winter Olympian in U.S. history. She was a pupil at Jefferson Middle School and Centennial High School. They saw Blair win two more golds. Looney, Douglas S. "Sprinting to Calgary." New York Times (February 9, 1987): 166. When was Bonnie Parker born? Also in 1984, Blair competed at the Winter Olympics held in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. She did some television commentary for speed skating. Speed skater who received Olympic gold medals in 1988, 1992, and 1994. Blair had more success in 1984, making the U.S. women's speed skating team for the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. "I just thought it was the right time," she said of her retirement to "He's the hardest worker on the team," Blair later told Angus Phillips in the Washington Post, "and he got me into that, too. That is, races that were conducted with a number of skaters competing against each other in a pack. Her husband, Dave Cruikshank, was also a speed skater and she served as his technical consultant. Four of her siblings would hold speedskating titles. One of Blair's most influential coaches was Cathy Priestner (later known as Cathy Priestner-Allinger when she married Todd Allinger in 1986). Blair's only disappointment was finishing 21st in the 1500 meter race. Encased in a glass tabletop in her house, Blair's gold medals have become part of her daily landscape. She hired a different coach, Nick Thometz, who emphasized something different for Blair: explosive drills over strength and distance training. Her unprecedented Olympic success began at the 1988 Calgary Games. Blair would also hold a number of world's and American records over the course of her speed skating career. Speed skater Eric Heiden won five gold medals in the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York. No matter what the competition is, I try to find a goal that day and better that goal. Father's influence Anthony Charles Lynton Blair was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on May 6, 1953. She began training with Cathy Priestner, who had won a silver medal in speed skating for Canada in the 1976 games, at the University of Illinois rink. She is one of the top skaters of her era, and one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history. Best. ." Bonnie Kathleen Blair (born March 18, 1964) is a retired American speed skater. Bonnie Kathleen Blair was born on March 18, 1964, in the Hudson River town of Cornwall, New York, and grew up in Champaign, Illinois. She received help from the local Champaign community. [26] At her post race press conference, Blair confirmed Lillehammer would be her last Olympic games.[38]. Place of Burial: Paintsville, Johnson, Kentucky, United States. Denver Rocky Mountain News (February 15, 2002): 23S. [2][25] For her second event of the games, Blair had a personal best and briefly set an Olympic record in the 1,000 meters. 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. Her father, a bricklayer, died in 1914, and Emma Parker moved the family to "Cement City" in West Dallas to live closer to . Sports Illustrated (January 15, 1990): 92. Noden, Merrell. That's where Bonnie, born in Illinois, moved to train. Immediate Family: Daughter of ALONZA LONNIE RATLIFF and MAUDE RATLIFF. She also set a record in the 1000 meters with a time of 1:19.3. International Encyclopedia of Women and Sports. . [46] In 2004, she was elected to the United States Olympic Hall of Fame. To win the 500-meter event, Blair beat Chinese skater Ye Qiaobo by 18 hundredths of a second. But Dave gave me real direction.". Janofsky, Michael. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Biography Bonne Blair began competing as a speed skater when she was four years old. Blair herself was introduced to the sport when she was just two years old. Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures, Skoblikova, Lydia She entered her first competition at age four and won her first race at age seven. Encyclopedia.com. 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. [5]:45 After the Olympics, Blair moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to train at the newly opened Pettit International Ice Center. . "Introspective Blair Rebuffs Outside World in Pursuit of Gold." The only real competition came internationally, but because of her lack of training in 1989-91, she did not have much success in races in 1990-91. Training remained her focus, however. 1. To celebrate, she climbed into the stands, still wearing her skates, to hug her family and friends. All Rights Reserved She contracted a severe case of bronchitis that affected her breathing. "Blair, Bonnie [12][13] She failed to medal and finished eighth in the 500 meters. In both races, she was pushed by Ye Qiaobo of China who earned two silver medals. Blair continued to serve on the board for U.S. She would win this championship every year through 1994. Bonnie Kathleen Blair (born March 18, 1964) is a retired American speed skater. Thus, the next Winter Games would be held in February 1994. After retiring from skating, Blair had two children (son Grant and daughter Blair), worked as a motivational speaker, and wrote a book about her accomplishments, A Winning Edge (1996). [2] The family moved to Champaign, Illinois when Bonnie was a toddler. 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.