Quotes by Eric Heiden

About Eric Heiden:

Eric Arthur Heiden is an American former long track speed skater and road cyclist who won all of the men's speed skating races, and thus an unprecedented five individual gold medals, and set four Olympic records and one world record at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York, United States. He was the most successful athlete at those Olympic Games, single-handedly winning more gold medals than all nations except for the Soviet Union (10) and East Germany (9). Indeed, he is the most successful Winter Olympian from a single edition of any Winter Olympics. He also delivered the Athlete's Oath at those same 1980 Games.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

I really liked it best when I was a nobody.

Eric Heiden

One thing is having skated five of the best races I've probably could have skated. It was nice to peak at the right time and to do it in an important time in somebody's career.

Eric Heiden

I mean you got to thank your parents for giving you the right genes.

Eric Heiden

I would recommend anybody who gets a chance to see short track skating, make it a point to go out there when Apolo is skating because you won't see anybody better.

Eric Heiden

We had a party with the rest of the skaters in our trailer and then the next day we were off to see Jimmy Carter. And then we had the World Championships the next weekend, so not a lot of chance to catch up.

Eric Heiden

Cyclists, I work with a number of cyclists. They are great athletes; they are great aerobic athletes. If you ask them to hit a baseball or golf ball, they can't do that.

Eric Heiden

I have a very close friendship with the skaters.

Eric Heiden

I didn't get into skating to be famous.

Eric Heiden

It's not a sport you get famous at. If I wanted to be famous, I would have stuck with hockey.

Eric Heiden

Heck, gold medals, what can you do with them?

Eric Heiden

I'm not a big fan of those who are egotistical and so outspoken.

Eric Heiden

Immediately after the Olympics, I was pretty fatigued.

Eric Heiden

In general, I enjoy athletes who have a strong character who let their abilities speak for themselves.

Eric Heiden

Then going out on the ice usually about 15 minutes before and certain things I would do for the different races, aspects that you run through your mind.

Eric Heiden

They're just big in the eyes of the American public.

Eric Heiden

We never did a lot of weights, but a lot of repetitions. The most I would use doing squats was 300 pounds.

Eric Heiden

We used to lift weights a couple of times a week, we did a lot of running. I enjoyed the variety.

Eric Heiden

When I was skating you had to participate in every thing.

Eric Heiden

You don't really want to load up a whole lot, probably anything more than four hours before the race. I needed something to make me feel full, but I certainly didn't want it to make me feel stuffed.

Eric Heiden

You got to get lucky because it lasts for a week and a lot of things can happen in a week.

Eric Heiden

Author Bio

  • NameEric Heiden
  • DescriptionUS speed skater
  • BornJune 14, 1958
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionSpeed Skater; Bicycle Racer
  • AwardsOscar Mathisen Award