Weather
At Age 52, Speedskater Makes "His Olympics"Conner Trains at Pettit CenterBy Rick Rietbrock
Meet 52 year old Bruce Conner, a pilot for United Airlines and a speedskater who is setting world records at his age level.
Conner lives in Illinois but drives 75 miles each way to train at the pettit.
"I love it," says Bruce. "I don't know any day that I don't skate is a great day."
Thirty-three years ago, Bruce tried out for the 1976 Olympics. He didn't make it and moved on to a career and family. But speedskating was still in his heart.
"I had enough time away from the sport to know that i really missed it," he says. "There was something about it that just drew me back."
As a 747 captain, he is on-call and must be near a phone to make sure he doesn't need to run off to O'Hare.
"My phone is in my bag and I check it every now and then to see if they've asked me to come to work," Conner says.
On this day, he's in the clear and heads back to the ice.
Conventional wisdom says the human body should slow down as it ages. Bruce is getting faster.
I'm faster now than ever been in my life by far," he says.
He claims that's because he's learned to be a better technical skater, but maybe it's thanks to his genes too. Bruce's brother is Olympic gymnast Bart Conner, who is married Nadia Comaneci. Bruce knows his own chances of ever making the Olympics are gone, but he still has a dream.
"What my goal is is just to make it to the Olympic Trials - that is my Olympics and that's good enough for me," Conner says.
After all, even the trials would be quite an accomplishment for a man who is old enough to be the father of most of his competitors.
"I let age enhance my dreams rather than define them," he says.
Over the weekend Bruce fulfilled his dream and qualified for the Olympic Trials in the 500 meters. He is now the oldest speedskater ever to do so.
|
|
