1. Early Life and Background
Eric Flaim's journey into competitive skating began in his childhood, influenced by both local sports and the inspiring performances of Olympic athletes. He transitioned from a dual focus on ice hockey and short track to specializing in long track speed skating as it gained prominence.
1.1. Childhood and Introduction to Sports
Flaim was born on March 9, 1967, in Pembroke, Massachusetts. He began skating at the age of five on a small pond adjacent to his home on Fairwood Drive in Pembroke. His early athletic pursuits included youth ice hockey in his hometown at the Hobomock Arena, and he later joined travel teams, consistently supported and encouraged by his father, Enrico. Flaim's initial introduction to speed skating was through short track speed skating with the Baystate Speed Skating Club. At 11 years old in 1979, he actively pursued both ice hockey and speed skating for two seasons. His dream of competing for the United States in the Winter Olympics was significantly fueled by watching the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid and witnessing Eric Heiden's remarkable achievement of winning five gold medals. This inspiration led Flaim to focus his efforts primarily on speed skating. Flaim stands at 68 in (173 cm) tall and weighs 161 lb (73 kg).
1.2. Transition to Long Track Speed Skating
After the 1983 season, during which he won both the North American junior titles in short track and long track speed skating, Flaim made the decision to fully commit to long track speed skating. This choice was influenced by the fact that short track was not yet an official Olympic sport at the time. He competed in two Junior World Allround Championships, placing within the top 30 in his first major international competition.
2. Speed Skating Career
Flaim's long track speed skating career was marked by significant achievements, particularly his breakthrough season in 1988, which saw him reach the pinnacle of the sport.
2.1. Early Senior Competitions
Flaim made his debut in senior international competition at the 1987 World Allround Speed Skating Championships held in Heerenveen, Netherlands. He finished 17th overall, narrowly missing qualification for the final distance, the 10,000 meters, by just one position.
2.2. 1988 Season: World and Olympic Success
The year 1988 proved to be Eric Flaim's most successful season. In front of a home crowd in Milwaukee, he secured a gold medal in the 1000-meter race and an overall bronze medal at the World Sprint Speed Skating Championships. Two weeks later, at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Flaim narrowly missed out on medals, placing fourth three times in various events.
In his preferred distance, the 1500 meters, Flaim faced the disadvantage of starting in the very first pair. Despite this, he immediately broke Igor Zhelezovski's world record, a surprising feat given that the 20-year-old was not considered a leading contender. However, his new world record was short-lived; just two pairs later, East German skater André Hoffmann set an even faster time, by a mere 0.06 seconds. Flaim's time, however, remained the second fastest 1500-meter time, earning him an Olympic silver medal.
A significant highlight of Flaim's career occurred two weeks after the Olympics when he traveled to Alma-Ata, then part of the Soviet Union. There, at the high-altitude Medeu stadium, he became the World Allround Champion. Despite challenging outdoor conditions, Flaim skated the best 10,000-meter race of his career to solidify his championship title.
2.3. Later Career and Comeback Attempts
In 1989, Flaim achieved a first-place overall finish in the 1000-meter Speed Skating World Cup, a title he shared with Austrian skater Michael Hadschieff. Following this season, he underwent knee surgery in early 1990 and embarked on extensive therapy to regain his elite physical condition. By 1992, he appeared to be on the path to a strong comeback, winning a 1000-meter race in Davos, Switzerland, which was one of eight races determining the 1000-meter World Cup, just two weeks before the start of the Olympics.
However, his participation in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville was marred by misfortune. After securing a 6th-place finish in the 5000-meter event, a case of food poisoning the evening before his 1500-meter race severely hampered his performance and ruined his chances for the remainder of the Olympics.
3. Short Track Speed Skating Career
After his long track career, Eric Flaim transitioned back to short track speed skating, where he achieved further Olympic success, cementing his unique place in winter sports history.
3.1. 1994 Winter Olympics and World Championships
At the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Eric Flaim earned his second Olympic silver medal, this time in short track speed skating, as a member of the United States team in the 5000-meter relay. This achievement made him the first skater to win Olympic medals in two different *winter* disciplines. It is important to note that he was not the first skater to win Olympic medals in two different *overall* disciplines; that distinction belongs to Christa Luding-Rothenburger, who medaled in both speed skating and track cycling.
Flaim also competed in the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships, earning a silver medal in the 1500-meter event at the 1995 World Championships in Gjøvik, Norway. Additionally, he won a bronze medal as part of the team at the 1995 World Team Championships in Zoetermeer, Netherlands. He participated in his fourth and final Olympics at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, having been elected by his Olympic peers to carry the flag for the United States into the opening ceremonies.
4. Personal Records and Rankings
Flaim's personal best times in various speed skating distances reflect his strong performance during his career. He also held a prominent position on the Adelskalender, an all-time ranking for allround speed skating.
| Distance | Time | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 m | 36.98 | January 23, 1988 | Calgary |
| 1,000 m | 1:13.53 | February 18, 1988 | Calgary |
| 1,500 m | 1:52.12 | February 20, 1988 | Calgary |
| 3,000 m | 4:02.64 | December 11, 1988 | Calgary |
| 5,000 m | 6:47.09 | February 17, 1988 | Calgary |
| 10,000 m | 14:05.57 | February 21, 1988 | Calgary |
| Big combination | 160.219 | March 22, 1992 | Calgary |
Flaim held the number one position on the Adelskalender, the all-time allround speed skating ranking, for a total of 1,494 days, from February 17, 1988, to March 21, 1992. This duration is almost exactly equal to the 1,495-day reign of Eric Heiden. Flaim's Adelskalender score is 157.340 points.
5. Personal Life
Outside of his athletic career, Eric Flaim has pursued a career in finance. He currently serves as the Managing Director of Estate Planners of New Hampshire, a Registered Independent Investment practice [http://www.epne.net www.epne.net]. He is a father to three children: Colby Flaim, Camden Flaim, and Sydney Flaim.
6. Legacy
Eric Flaim's most significant legacy in the world of speed skating is his unique achievement as the first skater to win Olympic medals in two distinct *winter* disciplines. This accomplishment highlights his versatility and sustained excellence across different forms of ice skating, setting him apart in the history of the sport. His role as the flag bearer for the United States at the 1998 Nagano Olympics further underscores his respected standing among his peers and his lasting contribution to American Olympic sports.