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.
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…