Eric Heiden - ESPN's 50 Greatest Athletes of the Century

The ESPN documentary on the great American Speedskater, Eric Heiden, from 1999-2000.

[@MrNowayjose1]

Less than 6000 views, I'll never forget this guy or what he accomplished

[@markdemell3717]

Greetings from Quebec ,Canada . I was fascinated with the whole thing ,the miracle on ice also ,I was right into it at the time.The guy was bread powered for his last race haha,now he is helping others as a doctor.There was a Canadian hockey player who became a doctor ,Randy Gregg .I am going to check out his sisters races.

[@adrenkhahn3490]

One of the most amazing (and highly underrated) athletes of all time. I was 15 in 1980 and was in awe! 32 inch waist, 27 inch thighs! Humble and now helping others in medicine!

[@douglasbath976]

The USA won 6 gold in 1980. The hockey team won one. Eric Heiden won the other 5 all by himself.

[@lucyfoster4082]

That’s just SO wonderful, that Beth said, “The hell with you guys!” to the press.

[@ZAOUWV]

Greatest Skater in history! The legend Eric Heiden

[@hollandmeester347]

If there were 12-13 scatingdisciplines like in olympic swimming, Heiden would have won 7-8-9 olympic gold in 1980... like Spitz did in 1972.....

[@towdjumper5]

I was a speed roller skater that winter and like him, my grandmother made me a knitted hat and I was able to win 3 trophies in my “sprints” Zainesville Oh. He gave me inspiration when he won 5 golds that year and I believe it was my “Eric Heiden hat” that helped me. God he was so fast. Great stuff and he was and still is a great inspiration in my life.Thank you” EH”, you are truly a GREAT person and athlete/speed skater. You will always be the BEST ever!

[@DaveH-10]

Mind blowing. He was a freak of nature. There will never be another like him ever.

[@davidrobbins3957]

Greatest skater in the entire speed skating sport’s history is number 46 on this list, really? He did something that will likely never be duplicated, period. Got to be higher than that, c’mon man!

[@ryanshimabukuro3283]

I agree with you 100%!

[@64fairlane305]

List? Including results from indoor thin air arenas, clap-skates & low-drag tricots

[@ryanshimabukuro3283]

@@64fairlane305 David Robbins is referring to the ESPN top 100 Athlete's of the Century. Eric was ranked #46 on the list. He should have been ranked MUCH higher than that! He was even beaten by Secretariat.

[@shawnyoung8752]

That dude is at least #10

[@albertoaguilar9773]

I'm guessing he didn't make it higher since his sport isn't as popular as basketball or football, even track is more popular. But certainly he has done something that to this day hasn't been repeated.

[@gionncaomhinmorpheagh4791]

I really don't believe that folks fully appreciate just what Eric Heiden accomplished. There were only five gold medal available for the various disciplines in the Lake Placid speed-skating Olympics. All of them were coveted by supreme specialists in the distances between 500 metres and 10,000 metres, among others against Ard Schenk the Dutch world-record holder over 10,000 metres. Eric Heiden was entered for them all, with no-one really thinking he'd have much of a chance when such specialisations were the order of the day. But he went on to win the fucking lot! And not just win them, but to score world and Olympic records in ALL of them. The only Olympic athlete ever to win every medal in one discipline (speed-skating). Now that's what you truly call a legend. MsG

[@ryanshimabukuro3283]

Actually, Ard Schenk had already retired by 1980. And Eric was paired in the 10k with Russian Viktor Loeskin who was the current WR holder at the time.

[@stevencooke6451]

What an emotionally healthy person. For the many people he has helped as an orthopedic surgeon I'm sure they're glad he so comfortably moved on to a life as a former athlete.

[@hattiem.7966]

The hockey team still gets all the adulation.I got to meet Eric in Calif at a bike race in June of 1980,what a thrill that was!!

[@craignelson3243]

I remember being at a summer speed skating seminar in Madison when I was a young teen and Eric was becoming a star, You never would have known it. He was so humble and unassuming.

[@shaunhenderson9434]

What an AMAZING MAN winning everything in Speed Skating, but what makes Eric Heiden AWESOME is how HUMBLE he is not trying to make a quick buck off of his Fame!

[@MrVvulf]

Eric's accomplishment at the 1980 olympics will never be equalled. It is the greatest athletic achievement of the 20th century. I think one of the main reasons he is not more famous was because he didn't take more endorsement deals. Perhaps it was mostly for the reasons stated (namely not wanting to become "too famous", or not needing the money), but if you pay attention to his personality, and the dynamics of his family, I think it's pretty clear that there is a reason the video didn't discuss. He didn't want to rub his success in his sister's face. He didn't want his face to be seen all over products and television at every turn because he respects himself AND his sister.

[@ryanshimabukuro3283]

Agree with you 100%! I'm fortunate & honored to have him as a friend, and Beth is top-shelf as well!

[@MrVvulf]

@@ryanshimabukuro3283 Thank you Ryan. Speaking of 100%, I hope YOU are back to 100% health. Take care of yourself.

[@ryanshimabukuro3283]

@@MrVvulf Thank you very much, I am doing well!

[@mmamatt88]

simply the man is a legend even still today in feb 2018!

[@Snakesborough]

My sister and I love Eric Heiden. He is our speed skating hero number one. But we would never bother him with it, because we know he wouldn't like that. We will always remember his awesome skating. Best wishes from the Netherlands. PS only my Frisian grandfather skated more beautifully than Eric Heiden, though I might be a bit biased ;-)

[@albertoaguilar9773]

Eric for sure is a living legend, it fulfills me even more to see all those great skaters the US has had over the years talking great about him.

[@williamdiemert9866]

Keith Jackson, Jim McKay, and Walter Mondale R.I.P

[@micjam1986]

Happy to have been born at the right time to watch Eric do his thing. I was 12 yrs old and the world was well versed in the anthem of the USA because of Eric! It was Glorious!

[@GingerG-wy3us]

Good looking man and so talented, Eric Heiden

[@douglasmartin2936]

Eric was the human "Secretariat".

[@atiboyful]

Yeah! That is true!

[@hollandmeester347]

5 out of 5 olympic gold medals. 💪 Eric must have Dutch ancestors........

[@albertoaguilar9773]

Heiden is indeed a Dutch/German last name

[@mikef9126]

I wish they would do this event outdoors today. Seems more Olympic to me. Could be i was 12 years old when this happened and I was in awe of him. Still am.

[@kevincross4302]

I don't know much about Speed Skating but winning the 500 and the 10K? A Sprint and a Long Distance? This is unheard of in running, is this common in Skating? Side Note....I LOVE that outdoor venue!

[@ryanshimabukuro3283]

It's not common at all, and that's why Eric is the greatest speedskater of all time. His feat will never be duplicated again.

[@Tcchamp5877]

Only in America can the greatest speed skater that ever lived be this anonymous..Sad really but for him he loved the fact nobody really was aware of his greatness. The comparison to winning the sprints and distance races in track is right on. Nobody will ever do what he did ever again..

[@jameshuseby9931]

Eric Heiden should be in top 10 of all time not 46

[@ryanshimabukuro3283]

Agreed!

[@jacquelinerussell8530]

For sure What he did in 1980 in the sport of speedskating at the winter Olympics will never be duplicated

[@MrLewis-lk8us]

I went to college with a guy from Minnetonka, MN. He said Eric Heiden would tie 300lbs of sand bags around his waist and do hundreds of squats and he had legs bigger than Tom Platts and Kirby Pucket.

[@ryanshimabukuro3283]

Yeah, it's true. Many speedskaters used homemade sandbags for off-ice training. I did when I skated & had my skaters do it when I started coaching. Dr. Eric Heiden joined my team for a bike workout a couple of weeks ago & his legs are still big!

[@richarderbe678]

He walked away quietly, and humble. No one will repeat what he did. It is the greatest performance in any one Olympic. Neve to be repeated It would be equivalent to a track star running the 100,400,1500,5000,10000m races. And winning gold. In swimming. Win the freestyle in one Olympics for 50, 100,400,800,1500 meters races. Never happened and never will . No comparison.

[@user-pp6jj7wx8v]

Great!

[@Ruouiji]

The awesome Eric Heiden!!

[@christophermoyer6103]

didn't even realize he also competed on Iron Chef

[@randy4395]

Beth Heiden:To Hell with you guys!I couldn't agree with you more,Beth!

[@rem145]

16:20 I know who this is and he really personifies the America I knew and loved. Just how he approached things I want him as my President someday.

[@galenstone9097]

No one will ever do what Eric did again.

[@ryanshimabukuro3283]

Agreed

[@Ilovemunchlax1]

46???? Should be top 15 easy.

[@ryanshimabukuro3283]

Agreed 100%!

[@aageseljegard8730]

Son of god ✌️

[@ivero2]

There are sports with a much broader recruitment of talent, and Heidens phsyique of course would not fit any sport equally well. But in so far as comparison makes sense at all, I firmly believe Heiden was exceptional. His feats will never be repeated in skating. He is up there with athletes like Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps.

[@boomerang8909]

Coach, by the way, say hi to Erin for us.

[@jensopsic6579]

@PaulSopsic is #EricHeiden your old pal from the 80’s now known as #DrWill of #TwinCitiesPainClinic in #Edina #Minnesota ? Do you recall the autographed 8 by 10’s our father #Elvis gave us as kids? I wish I had my belongings, I would send it to him in the event he had to leave it all behind too....

[@user-vk6tr9hf7t]

Кондаков как Деревянный Буратино,на фоне Эрика

[@shawnyoung8752]

Phelps and Spitz won 4 5 individuals. 3 relays. Heiden won 5. Think if Bolt won 100,200,400, 3200,and 5000. Well he didnt nor has anyone . Heiden did it against sprinters and long distance guys.

[@user-vk6tr9hf7t]

Анпболические стероиды

[@user-de1yb6er3s]

Все сделано под допингом, ещё не определяемом на то время😂 Поэтому и бросил рано бегать, что бы не умереть😂

[@jacquelinerussell8530]

Please dont hate just congratulating a legend in speed skating Eric Heiden