Skating for Gold:
Wisconsin's Olympic Speed Skaters, 1976-2006
Chris Witty (b. 1975)
West Allis, Wisconsin
Chris Witty
Chris began speed skating at the age of nine, wearing figure skates. Despite this challenge, she won her first race by such a huge margin that she was greeting her mother in the stands while her competitors finished. A club coach took notice and asked her to consider training seriously. She had hoped to become a basketball player but realized she had a real talent for speed skating.
At eighteen, Chris went to her first Olympics in 1994. She did not stand out until the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, where she was the only athlete to win two individual medals. When she won her gold medal in the 1000 meters at the 2002 Olympics, she also set a world record.
Chris is also a competitive cyclist and went to the 2000 Summer Olympics, where she finished fifth in the 500-meter time trial.
Olympic Career
1994, Lillehammer, France
1000 meters: 23rd
1998, Nagano, Japan
500 meters: 10th
1000 meters: SILVER MEDAL
1500 meters: BRONZE MEDAL
2002, Salt Lake City, Utah
500 meters: 14th
1000 meters: GOLD MEDAL
1500 meters: 5th
2006, Turin, Italy
500 meters: 28th
1000 meters: 27th
Silver medal won by Chris Witty at the 1998 Olympics.
Designed by the Kiso Kurashino Kogei Museum; crafted by the Kiso Kurashino Craft Center.
Source: Diane and Walter Witty.
Bronze medal won by Chris Witty at the 1998 Olympics.
Designed by the Kiso Kurashino Kogei Museum; crafted by the Kiso Kurashino Craft Center.
Source: Diane and Walter Witty.