Chad Hedrick Skates to Gold

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Shelley Osterloh ReportingTonight we watched as Chad Hedrick skated to Olympic gold. Now, the champion and his family are talking to KSL about what this joyous moment means on a day that used to bring up some painful memories.

Hedrick says this will not be his last Olympic gold, he has four more events to compete in! Hedrick has been saying he would do it and he did. Pretty good for guy who started speedskating less than four years ago. He was a champion in-line skater from Texas who moved to Utah and started training at the Olympic Oval.

Gold medalist Chad Hedrick of the United States reacts during the presentation of the flowers to the medal winners at the men's 5000 meter speedskating at Oval Lingotto during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006. The medal ceremony will take place on Sunday. (AP Photo/Jasper Juinen)

This is just the first of five events in which Hedrick could win medals.

With fans, family and Laura Bush cheering him on, Chad Hedrick led though most of the grueling 12 and half laps of the 5000 meter race. He said he had been emotional before the race, remembering his grandmother who died 13 years ago on this day from brain cancer.

Chad Hedrick, Olympic Gold Medalist: "She was watching from above and two or three laps left in the race, I got a little tired and I could feel her boosting me and give me a little more energy out there, so it was really special."

He said winning his first race at the Olymics was a dream come true, made sweeter because he shared it with many who helped along the way.

Wanda Hedrick, Chad's Mother: "Just to see him that happy was a mother's dream."

Paul Hedrick, Chad's Father: "I really wasn't that emotional at first, until I realized he was on the biggest dance floor you can get on."

Chad Hedrick: "I had a lot of people here from Houston, Texas watching along, and I'm sure a lot of people in Salt Lake City they are gong to be watching as well."

And Hedrick says there's more to come. He has a shot at equaling Eric Heiden's record of five gold medals in a Winter Olympics.

Chad Hedrick: "I'm not going to be happy with coming home with one gold medal. I'm skating really well. I've worked too hard to be satisfied with coming home with one gold. It should be fun."

Hedrick told me his dad went up to Mrs. Bush after the race and told her the family was big Bush fans and she said she was a Chad Hedrick fan.