No Record, But Still a Great Athlete

United States speed skater Chad Hedrick came to the Winter Games with hopes of winning five gold medals in a single Games, matching the record held by skating great Eric Heiden. Hedrick was fast on that path after winning gold in the 5000m event earlier this week looked like achieving that goal would not be out of his reach.

Today, however, that mark has now become unattainable.

Hedrick, and his teammates KC Boutiette and Charles Ryan Leveille, did not qualify to race for the gold in the team pursuit event.

This loss should not take anything away from the phenomenal backstory that Hedrick has. Hedrick, as recently as 2002, was a professional in-line skater. He only took up speed skating after seeing is friend Derek Parra win gold at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City. Less than four years later Hedrick is considered one of the best speed skaters in the world.

Though tying Heiden’s record isn’t possible, Hedrick still looks to win more medals later in the Turin Games.