Utah now home to Heiden

It takes a lot to make someone who won five gold medals in one Olympics feel ashamed.

But Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco and friends managed.

"I think being an athlete myself . . . I'm almost ashamed I was a successful athlete," said former speed skater Eric Heiden. "Because now I look at what others are doing and now whenever you're successful, people look at you a little different: What did you do?"

Twenty-six years ago, as one of the world's most celebrated athletes, Heiden was known for his massive thighs and an unparalleled work ethic. Today he would be a suspect.

"So I sort of hold that against them," continued Heiden.

Heiden held a press conference Wednesday at The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital in Murray (TOSH), afterward talking with reporters individually. The occasion was his relocation to Utah. The former world record holder in various speed skating events — and hero of the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid — is now an orthopedic surgeon. He has been living in Sacramento, where he helped build the sports medicine program at the University of California-Davis. He was also a doctor for the Sacramento Kings and Monarchs.

But when the chance to work with elite winter athletes and help build TOSH arose, he couldn't resist. All it took was convincing his wife, Karen (an orthopedic hand surgeon), and business partner Dr. Massimo Testa to come, too. That took a year. Heiden had been to Salt Lake several times, including the 2002 Olympics, and loved it.

"We're pleased as punch to be here," he said.

Just like that, Utah became home to 83 percent of America's gold from the 13th Winter Olympiad.

When Heiden arrived at Lake Placid a quarter-century ago, nobody outside the speed skating community knew him. But soon he was one of the most famous people on earth. He didn't just win the Olympics, he kidnapped them, claiming the 500-, 1,000-, 1,500-, 5,000- and 10,000-meter races. So remarkable was his performance that 2002 gold medal skater Casey FitzRandolph gushed years later, "Every race. That's like Maurice Greene or Michael Johnson lacing 'em up the next day to go out and WIN the Olympic marathon. It just doesn't happen."

FitzRandolph added, "Two things stick out . . . first, normal people need something called energy to engage in an activity requiring 100 percent effort for 15 minutes. Second, normal people need to warm up before they win gold medals."