remembering Bill in such a special way. My family and I were especially touched by Bonnie’s kind words, it brought back great memories. Bill would have been so proud. It was an evening we will never forget,” said JoEllen Anderson
Classical Era Skater – Scott Drebes A standout short track skater in the
late 1970’s and early 1980’s, the Cham- paign, Ill. native was recruited at the age of 9 to try the sport by legendary coach Harvey Moore. Scott went on to become a three-time winner of both the indoor and outdoor Illinois State Championships, as well as reaching four individual podiums at the 1976 Junior World Championships in Champaign, and was a member of the 1976 Junior World Championship Re- lay Team. Scott was crowned National Short Track Champion in 1981, and was a member of five Short Track World Teams (1977-81). Scott also set two World Re- cords in 1978 - the 1000m at the Belgium
International Championships, and the 400m in Scarborough, Canada. In ad- dition to his national and international competitions, Scott especially enjoyed participating in the Chicago Silver Skates series, where he won as a first-year ju- nior skating up with the intermediate age group skaters. “Wow! I am truly honored and humbled
to be in such awesome company,” said Drebes. “Speed skating forever!” Modern Era Skater – Rusty Smith Since the time Rusty first stepped on
the ice at the age of 12, he’s been hooked on speed skating. The Southern Califor- nia-native was a natural on the ice, as was spotted by Bob Nelson of the DeM- orra Speedskating Club. Rusty soon con- nected with his first coach, Jerry Search, and, as they say, the rest is history. Rusty went on to make nine world short track teams and three Olympic teams, skat- ing in the 1998, 2002 and 2006 Olympic Winter Games. He was a member of
the 2001 World Champion Relay Team, and the bronze medal World Champion- ship relay squad in 2006. Individually, he won a bronze in the 2002 500m World Championships.On the Olympic podium, Rusty captured a 500m bronze at the 2002 Games, and a Relay Bronze with his teammates - Alex Izykowski, J.P. Kep- ka and Apolo Anton Ohno- at the 2006 Games. During his competitive career, and since his retirement from the sport following the 2006 Games, Smith has served as a valued ambassador for the sport of speed skating. From speaking to kids on overcoming adversity, staying positive and goal setting, to taking time to help coach aspiring young Olympians on the ice, Rusty continues to make an impact on the sport of speed skating. “It is an honor for me to inducted into
the US Speedskating Hall of Fame. From the time I was young I strived to be the best I could be in the sport and to be in- ducted by the best of the best that have
www.usspeedskating.org
Summer 2012
RACING BLADE 13
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34