On Wednesday, October 14th, 2020, the world of speed skating lost a legend. Terry McDermott, the 1964 Olympic gold medalist in the men’s 500-meter speed skating event, passed away at the age of 82.
McDermott was born in 1938 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He began speed skating at the age of 10 and quickly developed a passion for the sport. He was a natural talent and soon became one of the top skaters in the country.
In 1960, McDermott competed in his first Olympics in Squaw Valley, California. He finished fourth in the 500-meter event, but he was determined to do better. He trained hard and four years later he achieved his goal. At the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, McDermott won the gold medal in the 500-meter event. He also won a silver medal in the 1,000-meter event.
McDermott’s success didn’t end there. He went on to win multiple Canadian and North American championships and set several world records. He was also inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1965 and the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1966.
McDermott’s legacy will live on through his many accomplishments and his impact on the sport of speed skating. He was an inspiration to many and will be remembered as one of the greatest speed skaters of all time. His death is a great loss to the world of sports and he will be deeply missed.
