March 18

BONNIE BLAIR

March 18, 1964, is the birth date of Bonnie Blair, a world-famous speed skater.
Bonnie is the only American woman in Olympic history to win five gold medals.

Bonnie is the youngest of six children in the Blair family. All the Blair kids
loved ice skating. Bonnie’s older brothers and sisters put skates on her when she
was just two years old.

As she grew older, Bonnie entered skating contests in her hometown:

Champaign, Illinois. She soon became the local champion. Then she won national
contests. At 19, Bonnie qualified for the 1984 Olympic Games. There, she finished
8th in the 500-meter race.

At the 1988 Olympics, Bonnie set the world record in the 500-meter race,
winning her first gold medal. She also won a bronze medal in the 1,000-meter
race. In 1992, she won two more gold medals.

At the 1994 Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway, Bonnie became the

“golden girl” by winning her fourth and fifth gold medals. She sped around the
course so fast that some reporters called her Bonnie “Blur.”

Becoming the world’s fastest woman speed skater was a thrill not only for
Bonnie, but her whole family. They had traveled to all the games to cheer her
on. Bonnie’s father had been one of her biggest fans. When he died in 1989,
Bonnie felt a great loss. When she received her fifth gold medal, she said she
had won it for him.

Bonnie is no longer training for the Olympics, but she is still involved
with skating.

© Remedia Publications 35 Daily Reading Activities: Spring

Daily Comp - Spring.indd 35 2/8/08 9:15:09 AM

 Name Bonnie Blair
Main Idea
1. This story mainly tells
ⓐ about a speed skating coach.
ⓑ about a famous ice skater.
ⓒ about a famous speed skater.

Facts
2. When was Bonnie Blair born?

3. How old was Bonnie when she qualified for the 1984 Olympic Games?

M 4. How many gold medals did Bonnie win in 1992?

A Locating the Answer

R
5. Write the sentence that tells what Bonnie said when she won her fifth
gold medal.

C
H Sequence
6. Number these events in the order that they happened.
Bonnie competed in the 1994 Olympic Games in Lillehammer.
Bonnie’s brothers and sisters put ice skates on her.

18 Bonnie’s father died.

Cause and Effect

7. Why was Bonnie given the nickname Bonnie “Blur”?

Conclusion
8. From this story, you can tell that
ⓐ Bonnie’s family was very proud of her.
ⓑ Bonnie got tired of speed skating.
ⓒ Bonnie did not go to college.
Daily Reading Activities: Spring 36 © Remedia Publications

Daily Comp - Spring.indd 36 2/8/08 9:15:10 AM