MY BOY WON OLYMPIC GOLD!!!
TORINO (AP) -- Chad Hedrick began his quest to equal Eric Heiden's record of five gold medals in a Winter Olympics, winning the 5000m Saturday.
The brash-talking Texan speed skater covered the grueling 12 1/2 laps in 6 minutes, 14.68 seconds, about 17 hours after marching in the Opening Ceremony of his first games.
With his mouth hanging wide open, Hedrick glided into first place after 3 1/2 laps. He soon opened up a huge gap between himself and Bob de Jong of the Netherlands.
With first lady Laura Bush and daughter Barbara cheering him, Hedrick pumped his right fist and yelled "Whoo!'' on his cool-down lap. The predominantly orange-clad Dutch crowd applauded him and tossed Hedrick an orange cap.
Sven Kramer of the Netherlands earned the silver in 6:16.40. Enrico Fabris of Italy, skating in the final pair, delighted the hometown fans by taking bronze in 6:18.25.
Hedrick had mentally circled Feb. 11 on his calendar each year since he switched from inline skating to the ice after the 2002 Salt Lake Games.
The date was significant because Saturday marked the 13th anniversary of his grandmother's death from brain cancer. Geraldine Hedrick was her grandson's best friend while he was growing up in Spring, Texas, as the son of a roller rink owner. He had said Saturday's race would be for her.
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we knew he could do it!!!!! wooo hhoooooooooo
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