Cathy Turner

Cathy Ann Turner (born April 10, 1962, Rochester, New York) is an American short track speed skater, who won gold medals at the 1992 Winter Olympics and 1994 Winter Olympics.

Turner was the American short-track champion in 1979, but failed to make the U.S. team for the 1980 Winter Olympics. She left skating to pursue a career as a singer under the stage name "Nikki Newland." [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9504E6DA1538F933A25751C0A962958260&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/I/Ice%20Skating Jere Longman, "Winter Olympics:Moving On the Fast Track", New York Times, Feb. 10, 1994] ] After suffering and being hospitalized for clinical depression, [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9504E6DA1538F933A25751C0A962958260&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/I/Ice%20Skating Jere Longman, "Winter Olympics:Moving On the Fast Track", New York Times, Feb. 10, 1994] ] she resumed training after an eight-year absence from the sport. She qualified for the Albertville Olympics, where she won the 500-meter short track race and was a member of the silver medal-winning 3000-meter relay team. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE4DE1130F930A15751C0A964958260&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/I/Ice%20Skating Michael Janofsky, "Albertville:She's No. 1 With a Bullet In Short-Track Skating", New York Times, Feb. 23, 1992] ]

Turner retired from competitive skating after the 1992 Games to skate with the Ice Capades, but then returned yet again for the 1994 Games. She won another gold in the 500 meters in a controversial race in which silver medalist Zhang Yanmei accused Turner of grabbing her leg as Turner passed her. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904E7D91F3BF936A15751C0A962958260&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/I/Ice%20Skating Jere Longman, "Winter Olympics:Short Fuse on Short Track as Turner Wins", New York Times, Feb. 25, 1994] ] Turner was disqualified from the 1000-meter race for cutting in front of an opponent in a heat; [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A02E0D9173AF934A15751C0A962958260&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/I/Ice%20Skating Jere Longman, "Winter Olympics:Turner is Tossed By Judges", New York Times, Feb. 27, 1994] ] she took a bronze in the 3000-meter team relay. Turner competed once more in the 3000-meter relay at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano.

Turner now lives in Parma, New York and works as a singer, motivational speaker, and skating trainer. She has also been a skating commentator for ESPN. Turner holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from Northern Michigan University, and is the author of the book "Awaken The Olympian Within".

References

*Leigh Montville, "Fire on Ice", "Sports Illustrated", March 7, 1994.

External links

* [http://www.usoc.org/26_13375.htm US Olympic Committee profile]
* [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/events/1998/nagano/speedskating_st/news/1998/02/17/kelley_column/ Jim Kelley, "Turner out to clear her name", Sports Illustrated, Feb. 17, 1998]
* [http://www.networkwomen.com/archives/coverstory3_00.html Regina Marcazzo, "Cathy Turner Speaks Out for Mental Health", Networking magazine, Sept. 2000]
* [http://www.usoc.org/11499_18781.htm Cathy Turner self-profile, US Olympic Committee site]
* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9125275/Cathy-Turner Britannica Online article]