Amy Peterson
Encyclopedia
Amy Peterson is an American short track speed skater
. Peterson competed in five consecutive Olympic games from when short track speed skating was exhibition sport in 1988 to 2002.
Peterson qualified for her first Olympic Games in 1988 for the 1988 Winter Olympics
in Calgary at age 16. In 1988 short track speed skating was just a demonstration sport and no medals were awarded. Peterson won the 1,000 meters, and 1,500 meters US speed skating titles at the U.S. Olympic Festival in 1989. She also placed third in the 500 meters.
Peterson attended Johnson Senior High School in Saint Paul, Minnesota and graduated in 1990. Her uncle, Gene Sandvig, competed in speed skating in the 1952 and 1956 Olympic Games.
Peterson returned to qualify for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan after overcoming chronic fatigue syndrome
. Peterson's performance suffered during the time with her dropping from the number one U.S. woman to eighth.
In 2000, Peterson won all four distances at U.S. short track speed skating championships. Peterson qualified for the 2000 Winter Goodwill Games
while winning the 500, 1,000, 1,5000 and 3,000 meter races. She held the American record in 1,000, 1,500 and 3,000 meters races in June 2000. In 2001 she won her eighth U.S. women's championship.
By the end of the 2000-2001 season Peterson was ranked ninth in the world and ranked in the top ten for each distance.
During the In the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, Peterson was elected to carry the US flag at the opening ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympics
. She planned for the Olympics to be her last one. Peterson failed to win a medal in any of her individual events or in the relay.
Peterson failed to qualify for her sixth Olympic games in 2005.
Short track speed skating
Short track speed skating is a form of competitive ice speed skating. In competitions, multiple skaters skate on an oval ice track with a circumference of 111.12 m...
. Peterson competed in five consecutive Olympic games from when short track speed skating was exhibition sport in 1988 to 2002.
Peterson qualified for her first Olympic Games in 1988 for the 1988 Winter Olympics
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
in Calgary at age 16. In 1988 short track speed skating was just a demonstration sport and no medals were awarded. Peterson won the 1,000 meters, and 1,500 meters US speed skating titles at the U.S. Olympic Festival in 1989. She also placed third in the 500 meters.
Peterson attended Johnson Senior High School in Saint Paul, Minnesota and graduated in 1990. Her uncle, Gene Sandvig, competed in speed skating in the 1952 and 1956 Olympic Games.
Peterson returned to qualify for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan after overcoming chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is the most common name used to designate a significantly debilitating medical disorder or group of disorders generally defined by persistent fatigue accompanied by other specific symptoms for a minimum of six months, not due to ongoing exertion, not substantially...
. Peterson's performance suffered during the time with her dropping from the number one U.S. woman to eighth.
In 2000, Peterson won all four distances at U.S. short track speed skating championships. Peterson qualified for the 2000 Winter Goodwill Games
Goodwill Games
The Goodwill Games was an international sports competition, created by Ted Turner in reaction to the political troubles surrounding the Olympic Games of the 1980s...
while winning the 500, 1,000, 1,5000 and 3,000 meter races. She held the American record in 1,000, 1,500 and 3,000 meters races in June 2000. In 2001 she won her eighth U.S. women's championship.
By the end of the 2000-2001 season Peterson was ranked ninth in the world and ranked in the top ten for each distance.
During the In the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, Peterson was elected to carry the US flag at the opening ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
. She planned for the Olympics to be her last one. Peterson failed to win a medal in any of her individual events or in the relay.
Peterson failed to qualify for her sixth Olympic games in 2005.