When competition began in Vancouver last Saturday, Bonnie Blair was the most highly decorated American Winter Olympic athlete in history with six medals in speed skating, five of them gold. That’s even though Bonnie retired in 1995.

Blair was the youngest of six children, all of whom learned to skate at an early age. Bonnie was two when she took the ice for the first time, so small that her parents could not find skates that fit her, so she had to wear shoes under her skates. She began racing at four. Growing up in Champaign, Illinois, Olympic-style racing began for her at 16, and Blair moved to the Milwaukee area to train with the U. S. speed skating team.

Bonnie credits former Olympic skater Dave Silk with giving her real direction and encouragement early in her career. If she were going to make the 1984 Olympic team, Blair knew she would have to train in Europe, but didn’t have the money. The Champaign police department held a series of raffles and bake sales to raise $ 7, 000, and NBA star Jack Sikma of the Bucks donated $ 1, 500 so she made the trip. Bonnie did qualify for her first Olympic games in Sarajevo in 1984, but did not win any medals. She captured her first gold in 1988 at Calgary, setting a world record in the 500-meters, and also placed third in the 1000 meters.

The 5-foot 4, 130-pounder earned two gold medals at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, scoring victories in both the 500 and 1000. It was the first time a woman won two gold medals for the 500-meter event in two consecutive Winter Olympics. Blair also was honored with the Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the U. S.

Because the rules were changed and the Winter and Summer games were put on alternating four-year cycles, the next chance for Bonnie came in 1994. At Lillehammer, Norway, Blair again repeated her gold medal successes in the 500 and 1000, and became the first female athlete to win five Olympic gold medals for individual events.

In her final race, on her 31st birthday in 1995, Bonnie set an American record in the 1000 meters.

Blair married Olympic teammate Dave Cruikshank in 1996. They live in Delafield, Wisconsin with their son Grant and daughter Blair. She has helped coach the U. S. women’s speed skating team. Bonnie was elected to the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 2004, and now earns a living as a motivational speaker to corporations and associations. She also donates her time to a variety of charities that she organizes through the Bonnie Blair Charitable Fund.

Where does she keep her Olympic medals? They are encased in a glass tabletop in her home. Bonnie says, ” The kids eat cereal on top of it, but it’s got a heavy top, so nothing gets underneath.”