Bonnie Blair, affectionately known as "Bonnie the Blur" because of her speed, is the first woman in U.S. history to win gold medals at three consecutive Olympic Games. More amazingly, in 1994 she became the first American woman to win five gold medals overall in the Olympics, Winter or Summer. Add a bronze medal to her gold and she has won more medals in the Winter Olympics than any other American. Blair is a speed skater who has been competing since she was seven years old. Shorter and less powerful than some of her Olympic rivals, Blair's near-perfect technique helped her set the world record for the 500-meter speed skating race. A true superstar, she remains humble, and happy to be able to participate in a sport that she loves.

Bonnie Blair was born March 18, 1964, in Cornwall, New York. Her entire family loved to speed skate. The youngest...