US Speedskating Honors Speedskating Legends & Contributors
KEARNS, UT (May 7, 2010) The 2010 US Speedskating Board of Directors Spring Meeting and Hall of Fame Dinner provided an opportunity to recognize and honor a group of outstanding individuals for their myriad contributions to the sport of speedskating.
At the US Speedskating Hall of Fame Dinner on May 1, 2010, longtime contributor Duane Riley (Sun Prairie, WI) and classical era skater Mario Trafeli (Bloomfield Hills, MI) were inducted into the US Speedskating Hall of Fame. Olympic speedskating legend Bonnie Blair Cruikshank, who serves as US Speedskating’s Hall of Fame Committee Chairperson, honored Riley and Trafeli for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the sport of speedskating.
“What a great night to celebrate Duane and Mario into our Hall of Fame. Mario had great stories of the past to share with us, and the years that Duane has been involved is wonderful as is was all volunteer,” said Blair Cruikshank.
Bill Cushman was honored with the George Howie Award for his outstanding contributions to the speedskating community. The award was presented by Hall of Fame committee member Larry Ralston and honored Cushman for over seven decades of participation as an athlete, coach and referee. Currently head coach of the Midway Speedskating Club (Roseville, MN), Cushman has also served as coach and manager of several U.S. World Speedskating teams and was manager of the 1980, 1984, and 2002 U.S. Olympic Speedskating teams. Cushman served as US Speedskating President from 1989-2000 and US Speedskating Board member from 1972-2002. Cushman was inducted into the US Speedskating Hall of Fame in 1996.
US Speedskating Board President Brad Goskowicz presented three-time Olympian Apolo Anton Ohno (Seattle, WA) with the 2010 Eric Heiden Skater of the Year Award for his historic accomplishments during the 2009-2010 season. Winning three medals at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, bringing his career total to eight Olympic medals, Ohno became the most decorated Winter Olympian in U.S. history.
“I am honored and humbled to receive this prestigious award,” said Ohno. “Speed skating for me has never been about breaking any records or being considered in the same class as some of the greatest in the sport. I always set out to perform to the best of my abilities and become a champion even when I do not cross the line first.”
"Apolo has become the face of speedskating over the past years, he has carried himself with grace and determination and it is appropriate that he win the Heiden award after becoming the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian, ever at the Vancouver Games," added Goskowicz
Goskowicz also honored Randy Dean, Executive Director of the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee, WI, and Jeff Kleinschmidt, Director of the United States Olympic Education Center in Marquette, MI, with the 2010 President’s Award. The President’s Award honors individuals for their exemplary support of US Speedskating and its athletes.
"Jeff Kleinschmidt and Randy Dean are prime examples of the types of partners that US Speedskating is so fortunate to have," said Goskowicz. "Jeff has worked with us for nearly thirty years and virtually every U.S. Short Track Olympian has come through the Marquette program in that time. Randy Dean, on the other hand, has in a short time, transformed the Pettit National Ice Center in to the Center of Speedskating Excellence it was meant to be."
For additional coverage and photo highlights from the US Speedskating 2010 Board of Directors Spring Meeting and US Speedskating Hall of Fame Dinner please visit usspeedskating.org or become a fan of US Speedskating on Facebook.