PA Olympian nominated for hall of fame

Two-time speedskating Olympian Sheila Young Ochowicz of Palo Alto has been selected as one of 15 individual finalists to be considered for induction into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.

Ochowicz began her sports career at the age of eight, competing in both speedskating and cycling. She later went on to become the first U.S. athlete to win three medals at one Winter Olympic Games. The two-time Olympian won six World Championships in cycling and speed skating combined over the course of her career.

As a speedskater, she participated in the 1972 Olympic Games in Sapporo, Japan, and at the 1976 Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria, where she took home gold in the 500m (setting an Olympic record), silver in the 1500m and bronze in the 1000m.

“It’s truly an honor to be recognized for my Olympic accomplishments and included among this prestigious list of Olympians,” Ochowicz said.

Some of her many accomplishments include becoming the first woman to skate the 500m in less than 42 seconds and the first American woman to win the World Sprint Championships three times in 1973, 1975 and 1976.

Ochowicz has been elected to the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame, the Amateur Skating Union Hall of Fame and the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame. She was named “Sportswoman of the Year” by the USOC in 1976 and 1981 for her accomplishments in both speedskating and cycling.

Five-time speedskating Olympic gold-medalist Bonnie Blair Cruikshank enthusiastically supported the nomination of Ochowicz and said: “There are few athletes in the world who can be competitive at a world-class level in two sports. With Sheila winning three medals in the sport of speedskating and being a world champion in the sport of track cycling, she well deserves to be inducted into the hall of fame for the USOC.”

Ochowicz’s actions off the ice demonstrate her true belief in the Olympic movement. As a founding member of the Women’s Sports Foundation, she served as a lobbyist for women’s cycling and passionately promoted its inclusion in the Olympic Games. She also served on the United States Olympic Committee as an athlete representative from 1980-1988.

Through June 16, fans can cast their votes for the 2009 class of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame online at www.teamusa.org. The inductees will be revealed in early July and will be honored at a black-tie induction ceremony on August 12. Five individuals, one Paralympian and one team will be inducted.

— PA Weekly Online Sports

— PA Weekly Online Sports

— PA Weekly Online Sports