Wisconsin Historical Museum - Happy Birthday, Olympian Eric Heiden! On this day in 1958, Heiden was born in Madison. Olympic champion athlete, Heiden began serious competition in 1976 when he placed seventh
![Lake Placid, 1980: Speed Skaters Eric and Beth Heiden | See the History of the Olympics in TIME Covers | TIME.com Lake Placid, 1980: Speed Skaters Eric and Beth Heiden | See the History of the Olympics in TIME Covers | TIME.com](https://olympics.time.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2012/06/1980-02111.jpg?w=480&h=320&crop=1)
Lake Placid, 1980: Speed Skaters Eric and Beth Heiden | See the History of the Olympics in TIME Covers | TIME.com
![Golden Boy: An Interview With The 1980 Winter Olympics' Five-Time Gold Medalist Eric Heiden (Exclusive) - Saratoga Living Golden Boy: An Interview With The 1980 Winter Olympics' Five-Time Gold Medalist Eric Heiden (Exclusive) - Saratoga Living](https://saratogaliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web_Heiden_1000x600.jpg)
Golden Boy: An Interview With The 1980 Winter Olympics' Five-Time Gold Medalist Eric Heiden (Exclusive) - Saratoga Living
![Eric Heiden: five Olympic gold medals were only the start of his success | U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum Eric Heiden: five Olympic gold medals were only the start of his success | U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum](https://usopm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/heiden-lake-placid-1980.jpg)
Eric Heiden: five Olympic gold medals were only the start of his success | U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
![Speed skating, Eisschnelllauf Eric Heiden Speed skater Eric Heiden (USA) training at the Wisconsin O Speed skating, Eisschnelllauf Eric Heiden Speed skater Eric Heiden (USA) training at the Wisconsin O](https://cdn.imago-images.com/bild/sp/0047739091/m.jpg)