Katherine Reutter
 
2010 US Olympian
17 Time World Cup Medalist
4 Time American Record Holder
3 Time US National Champion
2009-10 Pre-Olympic Overall World Rank - 3rd
 

When it comes to best describing Katherine Reutter the debate is how many times the word really should precede FAST! Thereafter the comparison conversation begins, with reference to another notable winter Olympic Champion skater who twenty years ago came from the very same Champaign, IL – Bonnie Blair.

With a breakout season in 2007-2008, Reutter’s performance has publicly fueled these comparisons with speedskating statistic lovers noting that at 19, Blair finished 8^th against the world’s best at the ’84 Olympics. At 19, Reutter was a regular in the top 5 against the best in the world including two individual World Cup silver medals, one bronze, two relay bronze medals, multiple American records and the smashing, by nearly two full seconds, of a world record*!  During the 2008-2009 season Reutter added six more World Cup medals to her collection, including her first career gold medal. During the first half of the 2009-2010 season she went on to earn another six medals, including two more gold medals, raising her career collection to seventeen (17).

“I’m absolutely humbled by any comparison to Bonnie.  She’s one of the greatest Olympic Champions of all time and has been a huge inspiration to me.  I’ve got a long way to go simply to be worthy of carrying her skates!  If, someday, my mark on this sport can be a fraction of what she’s accomplished I’ll consider my career to have been a huge success.”   - Katherine Reutter

As a member of the US National Short Track Team, 2007-2008 was the season that put Reutter on the radar of every skater in the world. It began with three fourth place finishes at the season opening World Cup event in Harbin, China and never looked back. Weeks later, in Torino, Italy, site of the 2006 Olympic Games, Reutter made her World Cup podium debut, winning bronze medals in both the individual 1000 meters and the 3000 meter relay.

Soon thereafter, at the US National Championships, Reutter showed the skating world that she is here to stay with a stunning 9-lap time trial (1:28.2) that shattered the World Record by nearly two full seconds (1:30.0).  *Because the event was not internationally sanctioned the record remains unofficial but the accomplishment does not. Her time was fast enough to qualify her to race against the top men in the US. She went on to win all five distances at US Nationals, a feat repeated once before by none other than...Bonnie Blair.

In this same season, Reutter established the American and Junior American records in the 1000m (1:30.455), the Junior American record for the 1500m (2:17.349), the American Time-Trial record (1:28.24), and was the anchor on the American record holding relay team (4:13.793).

She won two silver and one bronze international World Cup medals and two additional World Cup bronze medals in the team relay events.

By the time the 2008-2009 season rolled around Reutter had quickly transitioned to the role of seasoned veteran, defending her US National Champion title and returning to the podium six more times over the World Cup season. 

Reutter opened the 2009-2010 Olympic season by winning her third consecutive US National Championship and earning a spot on the US Olympic Team.  In the weeks that followed, she six more World Cup medals and will enter the 2010 Olympic Games as one of America's brightest hopes for a podium finish.

Personal Info:

• Date of Birth: July 30, 1988
• Height/Weight: 5'7", 132 lbs.
• Born: Champaign, IL
• Hometown: Champaign, IL
• Currently resides: Salt Lake City, UT

Chad Hedrick's agent is Patrick Quinn of Q Sports Marketing. contact 630-903-0000.  Chad Hedrick is an Olympic gold, silver, and bronze medalist. Chad Hedrick 2006 Olympian.  For more information about Chad Hedrick visit www.qsports.net.