Eric Heiden

High school (ages 12+)
Sports & Games

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/eric-heiden

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Eric Heiden born?January 14, 1958
2. Where was Eric Heiden born?Madison, Wisconsin, USA
3. What made Eric Heiden so fast at speed skating?He trained very hard, doing many sessions each day, and used a scientific approach to improve his endurance and technique.
4. How many gold medals did Eric Heiden win at the 1980 Olympics?He won five gold medals, one in each of the men's speed skating races: 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 5000m, and 10000m.

Speed Skating: A discipline of ice skating where competitors race against the clock over set distances, requiring immense speed, endurance, and technical skill.
Olympic Record: A performance that surpasses all previous records set in the same event at the Olympic Games.
Sports Medicine: A specialized field of medicine concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of injuries and illnesses related to physical activity and sports.
Elite Athlete: An individual who competes at the highest level of sport, demonstrating exceptional skill, dedication, and physical conditioning.