Here in Wisconsin, winter isn’t just something we endure; it’s something we embrace. The state’s frozen terrain creates a great practice ground for competing on the global level, and our frozen ponds and local rinks have been the start of a path to Olympic greatness for many, including Kewaskum’s record-breaking athlete Jordan Stolz.
While the Badger State sent six Olympians to the Winter Olympics this year, the high-speed curves of West Allis and the storied ice of Madison have cultivated created an impressive roster of athletes in decades past as well.
Here’s a look at some historic hometown Olympic heroes.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Eric Heiden – U.S. Speed Skating (1976, 1980)
Raised in Madison, Heiden grew up skating on Lake Mendota and training in speed skating at the West Allis Olympic Ice Rink. Making his start at age 17 at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, he showed promise as a young speedskater, but it wasn’t until 1980 that Heiden’s talent truly shone.
That year, Heiden won five gold medals, setting Olympic records in five speed skating distances (500m to 10000m). Additionally, he broke the world record in his final race. His feats in the sport have led many to consider him one of the greatest speedskaters ever.
Bonnie Blair – U.S. Speed Skating (1988, 1992, 1994)
Blair was born in New York but raised in the West Allis area. She moved to Milwaukee early on to compete and train at high-level skating facilities, eventually becoming the face of the sport in the 90s with her iconic “Bonnie the Blur” speed.
Blair was the first American woman to win five gold medals at the Winter Olympics, as well as the first American to win gold in the same event (500m) in three consecutive Olympics.
Mark Johnson – U.S. Men’s Ice Hockey (1980)
Mark Johnson was born and raised in Madison, where he played hockey for UW-Madison. During his time with the Badgers, Johnson played under his father, legendary coach “Badger” Bob Johnson.
Johnson was a member of the iconic 1980 “Miracle on Ice” team, where he contributed two of the four goals in the iconic upset against the Soviet Union. Johnson later returned to Madison, where he went on to coach the UW Women’s Hockey team to multiple national championships.
Dan Jansen – U.S. Speed Skating (1984, 1988, 1992, 1994)
Jansen’s speedskating journey began in West Allis and is one of the most famous tales of perseverance in sports history. Before the 1988 Calgary Olympics, his sister Jane tragically passed away from leukemia on the same day he was set to race. Jansen fell in both of his events, placing low on the leaderboards.
After more heartbreak in 1992, he entered his final Olympic race in the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics. Jansen made history competing in the 1000m speed skating race, winning gold and setting a world record. He dedicated the feat to his late sister.
Matt Hamilton – U.S. Men’s Curling (2018, 2022)
Hamilton got his start in Madison, where he is part of a deep tradition at the Madison Curling Club. He made his mark at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics by playing a key role on the “Team Shuster” squad that started with a losing record, only to rally back and bring home the first-ever curling gold medal for the United States. Hamilton also became a viral sensation for his killer mustache, colorful shoes and charismatic personality.
Casey FitzRandolph – U.S. Speed Skating (1998, 2002, 2006)
Another Madison native, FitzRandolph began skating at age five. His career highlight came at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. In a sport often decided by thousandths of a second, he broke the Olympic record in the 500m to take home gold, becoming the first American to win that event since Eric Heiden 22 years earlier.
