Casey FitzRandolph (b. 1975)

Verona, Wisconsin

Casey began skating a month before the 1980 Winter Olympics. He had wanted to play hockey, but after watching Eric Heiden's amazing accomplishment, Casey turned his sights to speed skating. He joined the Madison Speed Skating Club and began skating on the same rinks Eric had used.

Within a year Casey had won his first Wisconsin State Championship. His success continued through high school and college, while he was a star soccer player at Verona High School and a kicker for the football team at Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

In 1995 he emerged as the United States sprint champion, a position he held three years in a row and reclaimed in 2001. In 1998 he went to his first Olympic games and made a respectable showing.

Casey considers winning the gold medal in the 500 meters at the 2002 Olympics his greatest triumph. Four years later he competed in his third and final Olympics.