Better, Better, Best

Apolo Ohno is one of the American stars of these Vancouver Olympic Games. A short-track speedskater competing in his third Winter Olympics, Ohno just moved past Eric Heiden as the most decorated American male at the Winter Games.

With more races ahead, Ohno is poised to also pass fellow six-time medalist Bonnie Blair as the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian, male or female. As we watch these Olympic Games and marvel at the accomplishments of these athletes, this story in USA Today reflected on the greatness of Eric Heiden's Olympic moment.

In nine days in February 1980 at Lake Placid, N.Y., Eric Heiden accomplished what no Olympian had ever done -- he won five individual gold medals in a single Olympics, be it Summer or Winter.

At the Lake Placid games Heiden whirred around an outdoor track at the high school along Main Street there, wearing skates two sizes too small, hoping the lighter weight would increase his speed, powering himself with thighs so massive he needed size 38 pants even though his waist measured only 32 inches.

When it was all said and done, Heiden established five Olympic records, including one world mark. The 21-year-old took home more gold from the 1980 Winter Olympics than Finland, Norway, the Netherlands, Switzerland, West Germany, Italy, Canada, Hungary, Japan, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia and France combined.

Heiden won everything from the 500 meters to the 10,000 meters in 1980. Perhaps even more impressive, all five gold medals were won in the span of one week.

And unlike Ohno who will compete in every short track event - typical for short-track speedskaters - since Heiden, fewer than 10 skaters have competed in all the long-track distances at an Olympics.

What does Heiden say it takes to achieve such incredible success? "You have to stay really focused, and you have to put a lot of personal goals on the back burner for years and years while you pursue your dream."