LONG TRACK SPEED SKATING FAST FACTS 2018 PyeongChang Olympics Context Facts and stories printed on notecards and used by talent during event broadcasts. Bright colors used to clearly differentiate between notes. Sources provided. Producer: Tommy Roy Production Manager: Allison McAllister Talent: Tom Hammond, Joey Cheek, Steve Sands Katie Christy 1 FUN FACTS KATIE Katie CHRISTY Christy – source: Speed Skating packet given to crew (top of p 149) Men’s 500 meter 1. Mika Poutala (Finland) a. Gospel rapper (Christian rap) b. Skipped World Championships event in 2006 Fall to perform at Finland’s largest gospel music festival 2 FUN FACTS KATIEKatie CHRISTYChristy – source: myinfo.com athlete biographies in media center Women’s 1500 meter 1. Heather Bergsma (USA) a. When asked who her hero is, Bergsma says former speed skater Joey Cheek. J 2. Brittany Bowe (USA) a. Says one of her heroes is fellow US teammate Heather Bergsma, who is one year younger than Bowe (1989 vs 1988). 3 FUN FACTS KATIEKatie CHRISTYChristy – source: http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/who-sven-kramer Men’s 5000 meter 1. Sven Kramer (Netherlands) a. If he wins 3 more medals in PyeongChang, he will become the most decorated speed skater in history, beating out 9-time Olympic medalist Claudia Pechstein, from Germany. Pechstein is also competing in this year’s Olympics, so they will be vying for most decorated speed skater. b. His girlfriend (Naomi van As) is a field hockey player for Netherlands and has 2 Olympic golds and 1 silver. They have been dating for over 10 years. 4 FUN FACTS KATIEKatie ChristyCHRISTY – source: http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/who-carlijn-schoutens https://www.nytimes. com/2018/02/12/sports/olympics/claudia-pechstein-doping-germany-olympics.html Women’s 5000 meter (Friday, 2/16) 1. Carlijn Schoutens (USA) a. Born in America, but grew up in Netherlands. Moved back to the US to Salt Lake City when she was 19 to pursue speed skating full time b. She plays the violin 2. Claudia Pechstein (Germany) a. Calls herself “Grandma” referring to her age as a speed skater b. 9 out of 17 women entered in the 5000 m were not even born when Pechstein won her first Olympic medal c. Her birthday is 6 days away and she will be turning 46. 5 FUN FACTS KATIEKatie ChristyCHRISTY – source: http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/who-jorrit-bergsma Men’s 10,000m (Thur. 2/15) 1. Jorrit Bergsma (Netherlands) a. Born & raised in Netherlands. Grew up on a houseboat and tried speed skating for the first time on natural ice. b. Competes in speed skating marathons which are often held on natural ice (lakes, canals). c. His dream is to win “legendary” Dutch race called “Eleven Cities.” Race is 200km (124 miles) through canals near his hometown (ice must be at least 6 inches thick; race hasn’t happened since 1997). 6 FUN FACTS KATIEKatie CHRISTYChristy source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/02/13/olympics/winter-olympics /olympics-speedskating/nao-kodaira-honed-skills-developed-mean-streak- living-netherlands/#.WoZu7JM-fow Women’s 500 meter 1. Nao Kodaira a. Moved to Netherlands to train after disappointing results in Sochi b. Dutch teammates nicknamed her “Angry Cat”, for her posture and mean streak when skating 7 FUN FACTS KATIE CHRISTY Steve Sands – Mitchell Whitmore segment 1. Bike Accident https://www.sltrib.com/sports/2017/12/09/after-a-bike-accident-this-summer-olympic- speedskater-mitch-whitmore-is-charging-for-pyeongchang/ Whitmore suffered a bike accident last August in Montana during the U.S. Speedskating bike camp (speed skaters often cross-train by biking). He flipped over his front handlebars after hitting a biker in front of him. Suffered five fractures in five different places in his wrist and tailbone. When Whitmore got back on the ice after his injury, he wore shorts to purposefully keep himself from going fast on the ice and hurting himself more. 2. Kimi Goetz (girlfriend) https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/winter-olympics- 2018/2018/02/18/speedskating-couple-mitch-whitmore-kimi-goetz- olympics/349168002/ Goetz and Whitmore live together in Salt Lake City. Goetz, also a speed skater, had a good chance of making the Olympic team but she suffered a major concussion. The concussion gave her spells of throwing up, mood swings, and she also has back problems. Whitmore and Goetz dreamed of spending this Olympics and taking in the full experience together, but Goetz’s injury has kept her sidelined and cheering for Whitmore from Utah. Whitmore says although her absence in Korea will not affect his racing, he is sad that she is not here in person and will not only be racing for himself, but also for Goetz. He says that instead of Goetz’s absence causing “extra pressure,” it is actually giving him “extra incentive” because he “feel[s] like [he] is representing the ambitions of two people now.” .