©IOC

Family name: Heiden
Given name: Eric
Date and place of birth: 14 June 1958 in Madison (Wisconsin, USA)
Nationality: American
Olympic achievements: five speed skating gold medals in the 500m, 1,000m, 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m (1980 Olympic Games in Lake Placid)

It was at the Olympic Games in Lake Placid that Eric Heiden produced the greatest achievement of his sports career, winning five individual speed skating gold medals and thereby becoming the first athlete to win five gold medals at the same edition of the Winter Games. And in addition to winning the five events, he set a new Olympic record in each of them…

When he retired from competition skating in 1980, he wanted a new challenge, so turned to cycling. He took part in the Tour de France in 1986, but dropped out on the Alpe d’Huez stage. Parallel to his sports career, Eric Heiden successfully studied medicine, becoming a doctor in 1991.