Special Assignment
Olympian Bonnie Blair talks about life as a mom
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We're fortunate to have one of the greatest Olympians of all time living right here in the area. Jessie Garcia catches up with Bonnie Blair. Video by tmj4.com
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MILWAUKEE - The 2012 Olympics are in the books. We're fortunate to have one of the greatest olympians of all time living right here in the area. Jessie Garcia catches up with Bonnie Blair. "There you go." Bonnie Blair-Cruikshank is watching her daughter practice, her son at her side. She just happens to be the most decorated female Winter Olympian in US history. But to them she's the mother who cheers at *their* sporting events. Bonnie says, "I bring cowbells and horns and make all kinds of racket." Like many parents, Bonnie chauffers. On this day talking about a critter in their backyard. Bonnie asks her daugher "so how big was the raccoon?" They also hit the occasional drive through. "And a Strawberry lemonade", Bonnie says. At home, the Cruikshanks are having remodeling done. Bonnie states, "As you can tell my mattress is in the living room.. It's chaos." And where are the medals? The 5 golds and one bronze? "They're right here if you kind of bear with me. I've been to somebody's house who had a Wisconsin Badger coffee table and when I saw that I'm like, I want Olympic rings. Ya know, this was Sarajevo, Calgary. So my Calgary medals are there. Albertville, Lilyhammer", Bonnie explains. We sit outside, with Grant hitting a few golf balls nearby, and talk about her life now. "I still do a little motivational speaking but then when but then when I'm at home I'm a mom or the taxi driver or whatever you want to call me. So you know, I feel I have the best of both worlds.", Bonnie explains. Bonnie admits retiring from sports was at first more difficult than she had imagined. "I'm in the middle of a run and I'm just balling thinking I'd be in Germany right now. So, you know, it was almost like withdrawl." Bonnie says. But her life is blessed and she's excelling in her most important role. Her son Grant says, "You know sometimes it's hard to believe what she did. And sometimes you kind of forget that and she's just a normal mom. Ya know, I think she's just the best mom in the world." Bonnie's kids have olympic dreams of their own-- Grant in hockey and daughter Blair in gymnastics. I asked Bonnie if she and her husband Dave had ever wanted them to speedskate. Her answer: "they have to follow their own hearts."
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