Chris Witty
Encyclopedia
Christine Diane Witty (born June 23, 1975 in West Allis, Wisconsin
) is an American
speed skater
and racing cyclist and participated in the Olympic Games
in both sports. However, she is more successful in skating.
She is specialized in the short and middle distances, the 1000 and 1500 meters and won medals at these distances at the 1998 Winter Olympics
. In 2002 she achieved her biggest success; she won the Olympic gold medal at the 1000 meters in Salt Lake City, with a world record time.
In 1996 she became World Champion Sprint, in 1997 and 1998 she became second and in 2000 she became third.
In 1998 she won the gold medal at the World Single Distance Championships
at the 1000 m, in 1996 the silver and in 2000 the bronze medal at the same distance.
In 2000 she placed fifth overall in the 500 m cycling time trials at the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney
, becoming only the ninth American ever to compete in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
In 2006, she was elected by her teammates to carry the United States flag at the 2006 Winter Olympics
in Turin
, where she attempted to defend her title in speed skating, however she was unable to do so.
She competed in track cycling in the 2000 Summer Olympics
, where she placed 5th in the 500m time trial.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
speed skater
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
and racing cyclist and participated in the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
in both sports. However, she is more successful in skating.
She is specialized in the short and middle distances, the 1000 and 1500 meters and won medals at these distances at the 1998 Winter Olympics
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
. In 2002 she achieved her biggest success; she won the Olympic gold medal at the 1000 meters in Salt Lake City, with a world record time.
In 1996 she became World Champion Sprint, in 1997 and 1998 she became second and in 2000 she became third.
In 1998 she won the gold medal at the World Single Distance Championships
World Single Distance Championships
The World Single Distance Championships are a series of speed skating competitions organised by the International Skating Union.-History:Since the late 19th century, speed skating championships were always decided by racing multiple distances – four different distances for the allround...
at the 1000 m, in 1996 the silver and in 2000 the bronze medal at the same distance.
In 2000 she placed fifth overall in the 500 m cycling time trials at the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, becoming only the ninth American ever to compete in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
In 2006, she was elected by her teammates to carry the United States flag at the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, where she attempted to defend her title in speed skating, however she was unable to do so.
Childhood abuse
Lately, Witty reported that she had experienced childhood abuse from a trusted neighbor since she was 4 till the age of 11 years old, and she kept the secret for years.Achievements
- 1996 World Sprint Championships: gold
- 1996 World Single Distance Championships, 1000 m: silver
- 1997 World Sprint Championships: bronze
- 1998 World Sprint Championships: bronze
- 1998 Olympic Winter Games, 1000 m: silver
- 1998 Olympic Winter Games, 1500 m: bronze
- 1998 World Single Distance Championships, 1000 m: gold
- 2000 World Sprint Championships: bronze
- 2000 World Single Distance Championships, 1000 m: bronze
- 2002 Olympic Winter Games, 1000 m: gold
She competed in track cycling in the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, where she placed 5th in the 500m time trial.
External links
- Chris Witty at SkateResults.com
- Official U.S. Olympic Team bio ... with links to 2 Q&As, 2 photo galleries
- Photos of Chris Witty