Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Shelley Osterloh ReportingA national sports organization announced it is moving to Utah. US Speedskating has been headquartered in the Midwest, but now will call Salt Lake City home.
Utah is building on its Olympic Legacy. Many of the top skaters have trained here since before the 2002 games, now the sports governing organization is moving here too.
The Utah Speedskating Oval has been home ice for most of the US long track team, but its governing organization has been based in Ohio, until now.
Bob Crowley is the new CEO of US Speedskating.
Bob Crowley, Executive Director, US Speedskating: "So by coming here to Utah, our sport here is based at the oval, and we are able to take our sport our federation, and bring it back to the athletes."
That is good news for athletes and for the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns. Providing a training facility for elite athletes is an expensive job and moving US Speedskating to Utah helps insure the necessary funds to keep the Oval in top operating condition.
Athletes are enthusiastic about the move.
Catherine Raney, 3 time Olympian: "It's only going to further our sport because everybody is going to be here at one place at one time, and we have access to each other, whereas in the past that was really difficult."
Another benefit for athletes like Gold medalist Chad Hedrick is the testing facilities at TOSH, the Orthopedic Specialty Hospital, and the recent addition of five time Olympic Gold medalist and Surgeon Eric Heiden to the staff there.
Chad Hedrick, 2006 Olympic Gold and Bronze medalist: "We have the fastest ice on earth so now, along with Eric Heiden and his partner Max, all the different tests we can do with TOSH, and the coaching staff that we have here, we feel like our program is second to none."
Dr. Heiden says Utah has a lot to offer elite athletes.
Dr. Eric Heiden: "And if we can do it right, I think the rest of America is going to look and see this as a model; and I think we are also gong to be coming back here when other national governing bodies see what Salt Lake has to offer."
Utah Governor Huntsman: "I am confident this partnership will benefit the state, the sport and the athletes who are involved with it, well into the future."
The move is going to happen immediately, and Crowley says he's hiring new staff. US speedskaters have earned more Olympic medals than any other sport --- 75. Right now the short track speedskaters train in Colorado, but US Speedskating is considering moving those athletes to Utah, as well.
