Name: Speed skater races toward Olympic dreams as Winter Games approach
Uploaded: 2025-10-29T17:58:20.539Z
Duration: 3 min 37 s
Description: The Winter Olympic Games in Italy are about 100 days away, and in Southeast Wisconsin, local athletes are training hard for a chance to represent the United States on the world stage.

The Winter Olympic Games in Italy are about 100 days away, and in Southeast Wisconsin, local athletes are training hard for a chance to represent the United States on the world stage.

Milwaukee

Blair Crookshank, a long track speed skater from Delafield, Wisconsin, is preparing to compete for a place on the U.S. Olympic team as the Winter Games draw near. Crookshank, whose mother Bonnie Blair is a five-time gold medalist and father Dave Crookshank is a four-time Olympian, is following in her family's footsteps but is focused on forging her own path in the sport. 

The U.S. Olympic team trials for long track speed skating will be held at the Pettit National Ice Center, a facility known for producing Olympic athletes. Crookshank and other local skaters, including Jordan Stoltz, are working hard to secure their spots, with the community showing strong support for their efforts.

Speed skater races toward Olympic dreams as Winter Games approach

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games are now 100 days away and we have athletes right here in southeastern Wisconsin that are competing to represent the US. Yeah, that includes Blair Crookshank, who is a long track speed skater from Delafield so our mirror Hubbard introduces us to her and shows how she is hoping to follow in her parents. Footsteps. Crap, Blair Blair Crookshank has a need for speed. I just love the speed. I love to be competitive. Speed skating is her sports and a family legacy. I was like I'm never going to do what my parents did. I just wanted to be different. I don't know why and then I tried speed skates and I fell in love with it. Her mom, Bonnie Blair, is a five time gold medalist and her dad, Dave Crookshank, a four time Olympian in the sport. But when Blair steps on the ice, she's on her own when it comes down to it. And it it comes down to you with that. So I think I really enjoy that aspect of an individual sport. Many athletes like Blair are working hard to make the US Olympic team and the team trials for long track speed skating are happening right here at the Pettit National Ice Center in early January. Everybody in the facility staff, speed skating clubs and groups are all just really looking forward to watching our American skaters compete for a coveted spot on that Olympic team. Director of speed skating, Carolyn Spewak says they have built a pipeline for skaters who want to go far. Pretty much anybody who's been on an existing Olympic team has. Trained here at some point, Blair is no exception. She says even if she doesn't make the Olympic team for this winter, she won't slow down on her dream. You know, it's not going to be easy, but I think just having the opportunity I'm super excited for like I feel like not a lot of people you know get to be a part of something like this. The U.S. team trials are already on sale for anyone who wants to cheer on the speed skaters. Reporting in Milwaukee, Merrill Hubbard, TMJ 4 News. Yeah, and as we continue to our countdown to the Winter Olympics, we look forward to cheering her on and all the other local athletes as well. Our Ashley Washburn spoke with NBC's Mike Tirico about Olympic speed skater and West Bend's own Jordan Stoltz. Yeah, he'll become a national star whether he medals or not, but he but obviously he's got a great chance to do some special stuff. If he can equal anything he's done in the World Championships over the last couple of years now, I think we saw with Michaela Shiffrin who will be back at this Olympics at the last Olympics. She was the person you thought would win a bunch of medals, and she just didn't perform. That's the beauty of the Olympics. You have one moment in time and you have to be great, so there's a unique pressure on. But Jordan's done that at the World Championship level. You could very well be covering parades and honors for Jordan when he comes back to Wisconsin. In March, after the games in February, he's that special within the sport of speed skating. We will certainly have our eye on Jordan and be cheering him on the countdown to the Winter Olympics. Really kicks into high gear and today is planning a special broadcast this morning to mark the milestone. The Today show will have a live update from Milan on the final preparations, and after being here in Milwaukee, Mike Tirico joined the team live in New York to bring his insights. Dozens of Team USA and Team USA hopefuls will fill the plaza, which will be turned into an Italian ski chalet to mark 100 days to the Winter Olympics. It's all this morning only on.

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