FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alysha Rummler (arummler@usspeedskating.org) (July 24, 2024)
US Speedskating Celebrates Salt Lake City 2034 Bid Decision
Kearns, UT –US Speedskating, the national governing body of Olympic speed skating in the United States, celebrates and encourages the success of the Salt Lake City 2034 Olympic bid, announced this morning in Paris, France. The allotment of the 2034 games by the International Olympic Committee reflects the efforts of the committee as well as the Olympic spirit and support for winter sports that permeates throughout Utah.
US Speedskating headquarters are at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah, a facility that was created for the 2002 Winter Olympics, and a space where Olympians are made and World Records are broken. Often referred to as the Fastest Ice on Earth, the Oval and accompanying facilities support Olympic dreams for locals and national athletes alike. US Speedskating prioritizes building connections with the Utah community, and the returning games promises an increase in excitement for winter sports in Utah.
“We cannot be more pleased about the announcement today,” says US Speedskating Executive Director Ted Morris. “Utah has a deep and abiding legacy in the sport of speed skating, and we cannot wait to see how the 2034 Winter Olympic Games will bring Utah together as a community. Sports events have a way of uniting and inspiring people.”
The Olympic host decision was made this morning in Paris, France, directly ahead of the commencement of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Olympic Gold medalist, Erin Jackson attended as a representative, as well as other speed skating legends including Catherine Raney-Norman, 4x Olympian and chair of the Utah Committee for the Games, and Derek Parra, three time Olympic medalist and current Director of Sports for the Utah Olympic Oval.
US Speedskating has an incredible legacy, with 91 Olympic medals to date, more than any other U.S. winter sport, as well as several of the greatest feats in Winter Olympics history. Among them are the five Gold medals won by 21-year old Eric Heiden at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics, Bonnie Blair - the most decorated female US Winter Olympian (six medals), Apolo Anton Ohno - the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian (eight medals), and Erin Jackson - the first Black woman to win an individual Gold medal at a Winter Olympics when she won at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
The return of the Winter Olympics to Salt Lake City marks an exciting time for youth and senior level athletes within US Speedskating and all winter sports organizations.
About US Speedskating
US Speedskating athletes have won 91 Olympic medals, making it one of the most successful sports in U.S. Olympic history. The organization sets the stage for success by providing support, from local clubs to Olympic teams, and nurtures an atmosphere that encourages growth in the speed skating community. USS is recognized as the governing body for the sport of speed skating in the United States and is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, on Facebook and at www.usspeedskating.org.
Media Contacts:
US Speedskating
Alysha Rummler
Communications Manager
arummler@usspeedskating.org