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Olympic Skating Skin Suit, worn by Bonnie Blair

Object Details

Description (Brief)
Speed skating skin suit, worn by American Bonnie Blair (b. 1964) at the 1992 Winter Olympic Games, held in Albertville, France. That year, Blair won gold in both the 500 and 1000 meter events. The world record setting skater is one of the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympic athletes of all time. Blair appeared at four Olympic games, taking home 4 gold medals and bronze.
The 1992 Winter Olympics, also known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad were held in Albertville, France with 64 countries, 1,313 men and 488 women athletes participating. This was France’s third time hosting a winter Olympics and the last time that the summer and winter Olympics would be held in the same year. The next winter Olympics would be held in 1994 and the Summer Games would be held in 1996. These were also the first games that the former Soviet republics competed as a unified team and the first time Germany’s unified team competed together since the 1964 Summer Games. Bonnie Blair was the standout American athlete in speed skating earning two gold medals with US figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi earning a gold in women’s figure skating. Germany won the medal count with 26 medals to the United States 11.
Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Museum of American History
wearer
Blair, Bonnie
date made
1991
Credit Line
Bonnie Blair (through Helen W. Broder)
Physical Description
metal (zipper material)
fabric, spandex (overall material)
fabric, nylon (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 51 in x 12 in; 129.54 cm x 30.48 cm
Object Name
suit, speed skating

Featured In

  • Winter Sports
  • American Women Athletes:American Women Athletes
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