Michael Richmond

Age

63

Place of Birth

SA

Olympic History

Lake Placid 1980

Sarajevo 1984

Calgary 1988

Career Events

Speed Skating Mens 1500m

Speed Skating Mens 500m

Speed Skating Men’s 1000m

 

Michael's Story

1960 –

South Australian, Michael Richmond, competed in speed skating at the Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid 1980, Sarajevo 1984 and Calgary 1988. A teenager at Lake Placid, he skated in the 500, 1000 and 1500 metres events, with best placings of 32nd in the shortest and longest races. The American, Eric Heiden, famously won all five speed skating events in 1980. 

Four years later in Sarajevo, he again contested the same events and improved his best placing to 22nd in the 500 metres.  Richmond closed his Olympic career at Calgary, again competing in the 500, 1000 and 1500 metres and with further improvement to 12th in the 1500 metres and 14th in the 1000 metres. He had the honour of being the Australian flagbearer in the opening ceremony. 

Calgary was the first time that speed skating had been conducted on an indoor track. This aided Richmond because of his familiarity with that environment having set two short track world records early in the 1980s. Short track racing was a demonstration sport at Calgary and was introduced to the Olympic Winter Games four years later at Albertville 1992.

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