Nick Thometz

Speed skating has been part of the Winter Olympics since the first Games were held in Chamonix Mont-Blanc in 1924. Originally only men competed, but women's events began in 1960 at Squaw Valley. Speedskating features two competitors going head-to-head, counterclockwise, on a 400-meter track in heats called pairs. People to Watch Bonnie Blair and Dan Jansen have retired. As a result, the United States has only one realistic chance for a gold medal.

Bonnie Blair and Dan Jansen, two of the strongest hopes for American Winter Olympic medals, Saturday dominated the 500 meters on the second night of the U.S. speed skating trials. Blair, of Champaign, Ill., led the ladies' division for the second straight night, winning in 41.46 seconds. She also breezed in the 1,000, posting a time of 1:25.14. Jansen, of West Allis, posted a 37.75 to pace the men's 500 for the second consecutive trial. David Cruikshank of Northbrook, Ill.

Eric Flaim broke an eight-year-old track record held by Eric Heiden to win the first men's 5,000-meter race Sunday night in the U.S. Olympic speedskating trials. Flaim, 20 and aiming to make the team in all five men's events, finished the race at the Wisconsin Olympic Ice Rink 7:07.02 to break the mark of 7:09.08 set by five-time Olympic gold medalist Heiden in 1979. "To get a record from Eric Heiden is pretty special in itself," said Flaim of Pembroke, Mass. "I could just taste it.

There probably is no such thing as a good time to get sick. Still, some times might be a little more convenient than others. Nick Thometz knows about that. He could have gotten sick a year ago and had all this time to recuperate. Then, too, he could have gotten sick just this week, and missed the entire business here. Instead, the speed skating sprinter from suburban Minneapolis is here to compete in the Winter Olympics, just as planned.

Speed skating has been part of the Winter Olympics since the first Games were held in Chamonix Mont-Blanc in 1924. Originally only men competed, but women's events began in 1960 at Squaw Valley. Speedskating features two competitors going head-to-head, counterclockwise, on a 400-meter track in heats called pairs. People to Watch Bonnie Blair and Dan Jansen have retired. As a result, the United States has only one realistic chance for a gold medal.

There probably is no such thing as a good time to get sick. Still, some times might be a little more convenient than others. Nick Thometz knows about that. He could have gotten sick a year ago and had all this time to recuperate. Then, too, he could have gotten sick just this week, and missed the entire business here. Instead, the speed skating sprinter from suburban Minneapolis is here to compete in the Winter Olympics, just as planned.

Eric Flaim broke an eight-year-old track record held by Eric Heiden to win the first men's 5,000-meter race Sunday night in the U.S. Olympic speedskating trials. Flaim, 20 and aiming to make the team in all five men's events, finished the race at the Wisconsin Olympic Ice Rink 7:07.02 to break the mark of 7:09.08 set by five-time Olympic gold medalist Heiden in 1979. "To get a record from Eric Heiden is pretty special in itself," said Flaim of Pembroke, Mass. "I could just taste it.

Bonnie Blair and Dan Jansen, two of the strongest hopes for American Winter Olympic medals, Saturday dominated the 500 meters on the second night of the U.S. speed skating trials. Blair, of Champaign, Ill., led the ladies' division for the second straight night, winning in 41.46 seconds. She also breezed in the 1,000, posting a time of 1:25.14. Jansen, of West Allis, posted a 37.75 to pace the men's 500 for the second consecutive trial. David Cruikshank of Northbrook, Ill.