Eric Heiden - 5 Speed Skating Golds at the 1980 Olympics | Olympic Records

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USA Speed Skater Eric Heiden was the most successful athlete at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympic Games, winning an unprecedented 5 Gold medals at a single games.
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[@ChrisBakerauthor]

I love that Heiden gets love from all over the world. He deserves it.

[@SLYSPYHIWAY90]

This was a man on a mission , Most people won't argue when you say Eric Heiden is probably the greatest speed skater ever .

[@bugsym6103]

Loved him

[@MedicareCareBear]

He’s still alive and well doing orthopedics he’s going to fix my acl in a week or so

[@DaveH-10]

No probably he is the greatest ever.

[@lucyfoster4082]

@@MedicareCareBear I wouldn’t need anesthesia; my star-struck ness would be enough.

[@Heavywall70]

@@DaveH-10 Who is better, and keep in mind he was a true amateur who won all these medals outdoors. There is not a skater alive who could set records at these varied distances.

[@chrischandler9780]

About 8 yrs ago I had surgery at TOSH, in Salt Lake City, where he was working at the time. My wife, who had been one of his med students, and is a surgeon, knew he was one of my heroes as a kid (I am from Upstate NY, and Lake Placid was my playground). I awoke after surgery, and sitting next to me, chatting, are my wife and Eric Heiden. There I am, at my worst, loopy, and trying to have a conversation with my childhood hero. Not fair, but now a funny story.

[@oosterwijk4]

Wow great story! Here in The Netherlands he is a LEGEND! Everyone knows Eric Heiden:)

[@albertoaguilar9773]

@@oosterwijk4 He must be, after all the Netherlands is the mecca of the sport.

[@wendydauderman4299]

Eric Heiden is the BEST Olympic athlete I've EVER seen... He was amazing to watch in 1980 at the Olympics... I will never forget it.. I was only a sophomore in high school when he did that. I was so in love with him LOL Funny to think back on it and now he's an amazing surgeon... He's my idol still. Love him!

[@LindaMerchant-bq2hp]

Eric Heiden and Mark Spitz

[@robvoncken2565]

He was actually an inspiration to Dutch skating as well. Also a nice guy

[@Heavywall70]

I really appreciate this comment because you guys are really leading the way in Speed Skating and have for some time. Something that we are losing in our country is heritages. Growing up in Ohio in the 1970’s no one would say they were “American” because that’s understood But all of my friends would say “I’m Italian” or “I am Polish” as if they were born there, which none were but we were taught our roots and heritage. Now we’re “white” and I miss being the “Irish” kid who brought green cupcakes to school on St Patrick’s Day and ate cabbage and potatoes because that who we were and that’s what we did.

[@lvfreeAdventures]

He was my inspiration in Speed Skating. Greatest Athlete ever!

[@scotmoser8716]

Eric Heiden's performance was probably most impressive athletic performance I've seen. Add to the fact he won every event on the program is feat that won't be ever repeated. Met him a few times when he switched to cycling and he was gracious and humble.

[@triciajohansen9295]

Koss from Norway came close with three medals, but no one will ever equal Heiden's accomplishments, he was and is too good!🇺🇸

[@MarcelVos]

@@triciajohansen9295 While Eric Heiden was insanely good, it's not fair to compare him to today. it is impossible to win all 5 distances today because of the increase in specialization. 500 meter specialists often already have trouble with the 1000 meters and for most 10000 meter specialists the 1500 meters is too short. It's an amazing accomplishment what Heiden did, but you can't compare him to someone like Koss or Kramer.

[@triciajohansen9295]

@@MarcelVos maybe so, but he is considered the greatest in this event, can't deny that!😎

[@Ilovemunchlax1]

@@MarcelVos You're not wrong. The amazing part is Heiden held OR in 4/5 events and WR in 3 or 4/5 events. He was beating the people who specialized in sprints and distance skating. A superb athlete who had a perfect body type and build.

[@oosterwijk4]

@@MarcelVos Now that's someone talking. You are absolutely right. However, he will always be the greatest!

[@roshi98]

We had just moved up to the Adirondacks four months earlier and my parents were working part time for ORDA, so we scored free tickets to several events, including two of Heiden's events as well as the "Miracle on Ice". I was only 9 but the memories from those events play back in my mind like a recording.

[@gionncaomhinmorpheagh4791]

Perhaps the best summer or winter athlete of all time, simply because everyone was saying it can't be done. But Eric Heiden had unbelievable self-confidence and went on to achieve the impossible. It was like watching a runner winning the 100m, 200m, 400m 1,500m and 3,000m. Not only that, he set five Olympic records and one world record. A quite astonishing achievement that will never be duplicated. If ever there was an inspiration to believe in your own objectives then it has to be Eric Heiden! MsG

[@atiboyful]

Don't forget his sister! She was NO slouch either!

[@waynehanley72]

I was going to comment something similar, but the achievement is actually more akin to winning the 100, the 400, the 1500, the 5000 and the 10,000 or marathon -- I mean it was every skating distance from the shortest to the longest ... and like you said, they were all in record times! He does not get the credit he deserves for that achievement!

[@jeffryhammel3035]

Thanks so much for your comment. I know it's been 5 years now, but oh so relevant today.

[@jeffryhammel3035]

@@waynehanley72 Why is it that anything that doesn't have to do with football or basketball or baseball is not appreciated in America like in other parts of the World? Eric's 5 races were epic, yet America's kids know so little about him. And thanks for your great comment.

[@shawnyoung8752]

I think all this talk is great. The thing that would have been great? It was The guy doing what he wanted in life. It would be interesting if he skated Tull he was 25? Or 29? I am not sure if Skaters physical peak. Most athletes peak at 27 to 29. That was my being born in 62. With diet and technology. Body suits. I think that Dr. H. Would have the ability to win if he wanted till he was in 96 games? Or did it change?

[@stephenw5647]

I remember being literally in awe watching those games on Tv. He and his sister were such Amazing athletes. Remember - Eric also rode the Tour de France in the early 1980s with Motorola team I believe.

[@stevencochran4959]

7/11team?

[@stuballs42]

Two greatest athletes of the 20 century Eric Heiden, and the great Secretariat ,never to be repeated again !

[@johnwienke3994]

Eric Heiden is my cousin. I remember when this happened. I was only 12, but his victories sure did make me popular in middle school.

[@felicciasc]

You know what's funny - I actually remember watching this when i was 7 years old.

[@bigbuffguy9589]

Heiden's performance was ridiculous, like a track athlete winning the 400, 800, 1500, 5000 and 10,000 in one Olympics.

[@johnlevalley521]

Love his wearing of the gold suit. He came, he skated, he dominated.

[@jeffreyadams207]

Lake placid is about 100 miles from my home, I have stood on that oval, visited the rink where Herb Brooks and his boys captured gold, pretty awesome

[@annegunnroosauve3091]

As a Norwegian I remember him very, very well. He was the hero in Norway. He famous like our king. And I as a female teenager was madly in love with him,- all the girls in Norway was at that time. I bought his book in 1980 translateded into norwegian, so I have a dream to meet him and talk to him and get his autograph in my exemplar of his book.

[@atiboyful]

+Anne Gunn Roos Auve --As an American-Norwegian, I consider Therese Johaug my hero!

[@hattiem.7966]

I have his book but it's in Norwegian.I had him sign it that summer I met him near San Diego.My Norwegian friend sent me and my hubby the book and my hubby knew enough Norwegian to translate it for me.I have the pix of us in the book.

[@hattiem.7966]

Did you ever see him skate?I like watching the 1979 Worlds he won at Bislett here on You Tube.

[@atiboyful]

Maybe you will get your wish someday Anne....? He is a Doctor now here in the US!

[@ZAOUWV]

In Holland the same. Greatest skater ever

[@skylaxx]

Amazing accomplishment. One of my earliest memories. I started ice-skating because of Eric Heiden =)

[@tidefanyankee2428]

I know a Doctor who trained (in medicine) with him. He said he was one of the nicest, most down to earth people you'd ever meet. He would humbly downplay his Olympic successes when others would bring it up. A TRUE Champion in every sense of the word. And from what I understand, he's a rather gifted Ortho surgeon as well. To my knowledge, no one has ever equaled his performance, and with athletes specializing in specific distances now, I seriously doubt if anyone ever will.

[@onetruehitman7623]

If Jordan Stolz can continue to develop his body to get better at 5000m and 10,000m, he has a chance. Now that I think about it both come from Wisconsin and Stolz thus far has had an identical career as Heiden by age 18 (first Olympics at 17 and then exploded at next year’s world championships)

[@bangfarang]

Happy birthday, Eric.

[@suzim9458]

Only 3 people have won 5 individual gold medals in one Olympics. Heiden 1980 Winter, Vitaly Scherbo 1992 summer (gymnastics), Michael Phelps 2008 (swimming). Hard to compare versatility with gymnastics, but in terms of versatility vs swimming, I'd say that Heiden's versatility in distances is more impressive than Phelps' versatility in different strokes. Phelps' distances ranged from 50 seconds (100 fly) to about 4 minutes (400 IM). Heiden demonstrated a distance range of 38 seconds (500m) to 14 minutes (10,000m), and everything in between. That would be the equivalent of Phelps swimming an 80 meter race, up to a 1,500m race. It's incredible that Heiden had the fast-twitch muscle anaerobic capacity (38 seconds), and the slow-twitch muscle aerobic capacity (5,000, 10,000 meters). Absolutely mind boggling. I will say that because of the sheer longevity of career, and multiple multiple golds, including winning the same individual event 4 times in a row, another individual event 3 times in a row, and another individual event 3 out of 5 times, Phelps is the greatest athlete of all time. But I do think for one Olympics, Heiden 1980 is at least the equivalent of Phelps 2008.

[@atiboyful]

I would dare to say that what Heiden did in Speed Skating will never be done again but in Swimming Katie Ledecky has managed to equal Heiden in terms of 200m all the way up to 1600m swimming events! They are two freakish athletes that don't come around very often!

[@donaldtrump3310]

mark spitz?

[@mbvglider]

Mark Spitz is absolutely amazing, but if we're talking versatility, all his golds were 100m and 200m freestyle and butterfly. Phelps was more of a well rounded swimmer, though clearly butterfly is his killer stroke, and all his individual medals except one were in butterfly or medley, and he never swam for longer than 200m per stroke in any of his races. I think Katie Ledecky is closer to what Heiden achieved. Sure, she only really does one stroke, but she has gone to a World Championships and won golds in 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m at the same meet, completing races ranging from under 2 minutes to almost 15.5 minutes. I think the thing about speed skating is that ultimately, no matter how many times you go around the track, you spend the same percentage of time doing everything, so at least it seems like the same sport. Swimming isn't really like that. 50m swimmers barely even breathe, if at all. 100m is only one turn. 200m is the first distance where it really starts to be a well rounded event, so what Katie can do is about as impressive as it can be.

[@scottqualls7690]

These should still be raced outdoors!

[@minnesotavikings4358]

Exactly and more beautiful when outside

[@iwilsonjr]

Never gonna happen - just like figure skating, fewer variables to control

[@Heavywall70]

I agree but indoors just makes it more accurate because the conditions are all controlled Can you imagine a headwind or a tailwind effecting an event from the first pairing to the last in the 10,000. It’s really not fair. Plus the sport is easier on the fans and can be conducted in a larger time frame because ambient temperatures aren’t a factor.

[@fuzesipeterfuzi]

Eric Heiden and Ard Schenk two greatest men speed skater int the world. Big rescpest!!

[@ZAOUWV]

THE greatest

[@trwent]

In that Olympics, Heiden won ALL of the US' individual gold medals. The only other US gold was in a team sport--hockey. I always thought that Heiden's performance was unfairly overshadowed by the US hockey team. The Olympics are mainly about individual--NOT team--sports, and it is individual sports that deserve the lion's share of the attention.

[@atiboyful]

Don't worry! There are lots of your fellow Americans (me included) who thought Heiden was the true Superstar of the 1980 Winter Olympics.

[@emerybayblues]

@@atiboyful What is it about people who have to put down one person to uplift another. The US men's hockey victory and Heiden's victory were equally important but very different in their perception.

[@ChrisBakerauthor]

I totally agree. They had Eruzione light the torch in 2002. It should have been Heiden. Nobody is ever going to do this again.

[@margiefigueroa853]

I remember watching him in 1980 as a sophomore in high school, saving all the news articles with him in his gold suit and five gold medals . His performance was magic and every time he stepped on the ice was nerve wracking but he proved over and over again both the suit and the medals were pure joy. What an athlete. I don't think they mention him the way they did Mark Spitz. I remember an interview saying he wanted to be a surgeon and a sports doctor and that was accomplished as well. Someone to truly admire.🎉

[@jgb4008]

The GOAT of speed skating!

[@johnlevalley521]

The greatest individual performance in a single Olympics ever!!

[@sarahjordan7406]

I went to lake placid once and saw the speed skating oval and thought I could never even win the 500m. It's so big

[@Pondjumper1]

I remember watching this...couldn’t believe that someone could win every event. Will never be matched.

[@atiboyful]

As an American, I simply cannot believe the lack of views on this great accomplishent of Eric Heiden in 1980?

[@hattiem.7966]

***** He got overshadowed by the hockey team.He should have lit the torch in Salt Lake City but no he was to do it with the hockey team so he turned them down.I am sure not many know of this video,I just stumbled upon it recently.I had the pleasure of meeting Eric at a bike race near San Diego in June of 1980,what a thrill that was!!!

[@atiboyful]

+Hattie M. I watched Eric win the Tour of Sommerville in NJ back in i think the early 80's when he started bike racing! An amazing cross over athlete! He also participated in the Tour de France! He has always been this 54 yrs olds hero because he was just so humble and nonchalant and never sought fame or fortune. Instead, he honored his father by becoming a doctor. Very inspiring man!

[@chicken_953]

atiboyful Unfortunately the Hockey team took all the limelight, very over shadowed he was. Maybe the single best Winter Olympic athlete of all time?!?!?!

[@terrycole3211]

atiboyful. i think because he went to worlds after and finished 2nd to that weird dutch guy.nobody ever mentions that. i think he was good but the olympics took it out of him.

[@hattiem.7966]

He barely missed winning the Worlds in Feb of 1980.I mean he and others were just plain worn out after the Lake Placid games.He was bored too and ready to move on,something the Europeans didn't understand at all!The only time I saw that he was excited about a win was after the first worlds he won in Holland in 1977 and those bike stages.He didn't show any joy at the worlds in Oslo in 1979 but being humble,he didn't want to appear arrogant beating all the norwegians on their home ice in 1979.In the Lake Placid games,he never showed much of anything after his skates, just a smile on the podium.I asked ages ago and someone here on YT said the worlds in 1978 were not on TV.

[@galenstone9097]

The best to ever lace skates.

[@MrNowayjose1]

ERIC HEIDEN RULES

[@drewhendley]

Simply the Best!

[@EgbertWilliams]

Beast. Are those legs or tree trunks?

[@atiboyful]

+EdD5 Tree trunks! I have only seen upper thighs like that on one other man and that is Tom Platz, the bodybuilder; another one of my hero's alongside Eric

[@atiboyful]

It helps when you have tree trunks as thighs!

[@sirena7116]

I had legs much like those, and so did many of my squad mates. I pushed weights on the leg press that many bodybuilders couldn't believe. I don't believe when people say Apolo pushed 1,400lbs on them because that's a little less than twice of what I pressed, and I thought my kneecaps (patella) were going to launch out of my leg with that much weight.

[@atiboyful]

Tree Trunk's

[@MrVvulf]

Greatest athletic performance at a single Olympics, all time. To put in some perspective, it would be analogous to a summer Olympic sprinter winning the 400m, 800m, 1500m (or mile), 3000m, AND 5000m. The training for those distances and physical requirements are so different, his accomplishment is mind boggling. Heiden won everything from races that take only ~38 seconds to over 14 minutes. All in record setting times.

[@Querientje]

MrVvulf phelps can rivel him

[@DGK284]

While Heiden achievements were staggering, it's not fair to stay it's analogous to an runner winning 400m through 5000m. Notice the difference in body types between a sprinter and 5000m runner; the disparity is greater than those across speed skating distances. It would be impossible for a human being to win 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, and 5000m in a world class track meet. It's very rare to even see 400m/800m double victories in running, but it is much more common to see 500m/1000m double victories in speed skating.

[@MrVvulf]

DGK284 - You're right, it's not fully analogous. But it's a record that will almost certainly NEVER be broken, and unlikely to even be attempted, since no one would be likely to even qualify at all the distances. Today skaters must specialize to even stand a chance at winning a medal. I still stand by my statement that his performance in 1980 is the greatest athletic achievement at a single Olympic games.

[@jeffryhammel3035]

Eric is a European hero. They practically adopted him. It's sad that athletes like Eric and even America's greatest jazz legends are somewhat unheard of in my own country of America.

[@MichaelJW72]

The Track and Field equivalent of this is winning the 100, 200, 400, 1500, and 5,000 meter races.

[@mankytoo]

And then there is Jordan Stolz. Amazing!! Not at the same Olympic level as Eric Heiden of course, but hey.... what he did this weekend at the WC Allround in Inzell was so amazing. And yes he can win 5 Gold at the next Olympics in Torino, but probably not on the 5 classic distances Heiden did. Time will tell.. From The Netherlands, I wish him the best!!

[@petr8068]

Total speed skater legend!

[@RunTMCTexas]

Childhood hero. He was amazing.

[@andybarrete6749]

So awesome I was a roller speedskater when that was going on and he was are hero.

[@thebigbadwolf639]

he did my knee surgeries, nice guy too, quality work

[@raybergstrom]

That gold suit was really cool

[@RobertBroatch-dc5qw]

Eric was asked once if people recognized him in public. He replied, only when I am wearing shorts.

[@verticalhorizon4633]

Never to be equaled.

[@Heavywall70]

I’d have to agree. In today’s competition the skater who can win at 10k probably wouldn’t medal at 500m. I’m currently watching this year’s championships and his 1500m time (outdoors and without clap skates) is only 4 seconds off being competitive. That’s insane after 41 years

[@ChrisBakerauthor]

It's always bothered me that so much attention is given to the hockey team. This was so much a greater accomplishment. Will anybody ever do this again?

[@rcfred_689]

he was awesome, I remember it clearly

[@justapuffin7303]

When I was a kid we lived by his mother. I’ve eaten the tomatoes from her garden. We moved away when I was 13 but it’s so cool to see.

[@mmamatt88]

legend

[@ArchitectGang]

This guy operated on my knees after a major car wreck, I got really lucky landing in his OR during my ER visit, I got brought in by helicopter unconsciously so it's not like I was saying 'bring me the best and spare no expense...' while the anesthesia kicked in on the chopper pad

[@pomrouse2994]

Great music. Anyone knows the name of the background music? Thank you in advance.

[@kbhaedge]

This guy is really good at skating...obviously...

[@todddelcour4928]

One of my first Sports heroes along with a few guys named CRAIG ERUZIONE MCCLANAHAN PAVELICH

[@cz2165]

It’s cool how the track was outdoors back then.

[@kanekokazuko7034]

憎たらしいほど強かった❗スーパーマンみたいだった。ピンク色の筋肉を持つ、奇跡の天才でした。懐かしいです。彼以上の選手はもう現れないのでは、と思いました。

[@vladislavno]

Not to be confused with the CEO

[@user-cy7ih6vi1u]

Большое спасибо мой дорогой дядя за прекрасно проведённый февраль 1980 года. P.S. Дядя,я оправдал твои опыты.

[@tomcooke7074]

This was this greatest with no disrespect to Ali.....

[@JohnLee-me3vg]

Do one for Michael Phelps' 8 gold medals

[@user-ge7fo4zb4y]

помню я пацаном, кумир

[@user-we4pz6jq8h]

모든 스포츠인 가운데 최고

[@santjoa7630]

Comparable to him I also would like to mention the Chess-player Bobby Fischer ( USA ), who single-handedly defeated the whole Russian world Chess-top with all of their computers, knowledge and bundled intellectual Chess-power at the world Chess-match between Bobby Fischer ( USA ) - Boris Spassky ( CCCP ) at Reykjavik ( Iceland ), 1972.

[@atiboyful]

NO Winter Olympian has matched his record ever since!

[@Au_Ag_ratio5021]

Feel the burn or not, nose down at the wire.

[@firstname9987]

Just found out this was my third cousin

[@jazzyfazzy3309]

Lol!! He's my fourth!!!

[@mrjinkorea]

He's my fifth 🤣

[@firstname9987]

Lol he’s really related to me

[@FAD1953]

Nobody will ever do that again.

[@triciajohansen9295]

It will never be done, this is a once in a lifetime deal.

[@exoririri]

Frozono vibes

[@Sc-ld7os]

Do you believe in miracles

[@lucasloislily]

Yes!!

[@olegkomarov3598]

С большой долей вероятности, могу предположить, что этот матрасный спортсмен , обыкновенный допик, и это же совершенно случайно , писали в СМИ, что его родители фармацевты.

[@airarret4895]

HE IS MY COUSIN

[@allkindsofthings673]

I cannot prove it but it was doping

[@huskydogable]

If you can't prove it then shut up, ignorant jerk!

[@shawnyoung8752]

The USSR was the first country to use steroids to help their athelrtes. Along with all the other iron curtain countries. It wasnt that known until 76 summer olympics with the east german women in swimming. After winning one bronze in 72 out of 36 possible medals. They won 20 medals in worlds two years later. Set world re ords like crazy. I can remember the california girls who were dwsrfed by the germans. Huge shoulders,acne on backs adsms spples. When ask they just resonded i dont know what their training is but its not anything we have ever seen.

[@endthisnonsense7202]

I cannot prove it, but you are a dangerous alien and need to get locked up at Area 51.

[@kkeeper1000]

I admire these performances but they are just physical performances. Their abilities would probably be better utilized in other endeavors than to distract the masses. But hey, we live in a superficial world. To run fast, fly high, swim fast are abilities that animals do better than humans. Our strength is more on the mental side of things. But intellectual performance would challenge the status quo. Better to be a vegetable who can run fast. I know, i'm just trolling but it's fun.

[@smartovich976]

I think Dr Heiden can choose how best to use his abilities. Whether as an Olympic Gold Medalist, National Champion bicycle racer, or Orthopedic Surgeon, (Who may have saved JR Celski's leg, and Olympic career) Heiden's accomplishments are more than enough entertainment for the trolls. 😉

[@user-mu6yj9up1b]

From USA, not from dear Holland, that's disconcerting