Eric Heiden

Eric Arthur Heiden was born on June 14, 1958, in Madison, Wisconsin. He rose to international prominence as a long track speed skater, becoming the most successful athlete at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. At these Games, Heiden won an unprecedented five individual gold medals across all distances (500m, 1000m, 1500m, 5000m, and 10000m), setting four Olympic records and one world record. This achievement marked him as the only speed skater in history to win all five events in a single Olympic tournament, cementing his status as a legendary figure in the sport. His early career also included winning the World Junior Speed Skating Championships in 1977 and 1978, three World Allround Championships, and four World Sprint Championships. He retired from speed skating shortly after his Olympic triumphs.

Following his dominant speed skating career, Heiden transitioned into professional cycling. He was a founding member of the 7-Eleven Cycling Team and competed in various professional races, including the 1986 Tour de France and winning the 1985 U.S. Professional Cycling Championship. After his athletic pursuits, Heiden embarked on a medical career, earning a B.S. degree in 1984 and an M.D. degree in 1991 from Stanford University. He completed orthopedic residency training at the University of California, Davis, in 1996 and pursued further specialization in sports medicine. Heiden then established himself as an orthopedic surgeon in Sacramento, California, serving as a team physician for professional sports teams like the NBA’s Sacramento Kings and the WNBA’s Sacramento Monarchs. He has also continued his involvement with the Olympic movement, serving as team physician for the U.S. Olympic speed skating team multiple times, including in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014.