By Rebecca Ryser
When the World Speed Skating Championships Single Distances ended last March, the Utah Olympic Oval held five World Records, more than any other venue in the world.
A commemorative wall honoring the efforts of all the speed skating athletes who have set a World Record in one of the 11 officially recognized races was unveiled Thursday, Nov. 29.
The wall, permanently displayed at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, Salt Lake County, contains all 11 officially recognized distances, the world record times, the names of each world record athlete and the country the athlete represents.
At the unveiling, a gold medallion in the center of the wall glistened as photographers shot pictures and spectators raised their glasses.
As Fraser Bullock, chief operating officer for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee sat at the speed skating championships last year, he said he watched two skaters both break the same World Record.
'We believe we have the fastest ice anywhere in the world,' Bullock said.
Members of the U.S. speed skating team mingled with guests as speed skating world record holders cut the red ribbons, unveiling the wall.
The wall''s debut was not only to commemorate record setting athletes, but also to motivate aspiring athletes.
'Not only does it recognize the great accomplishments of athletes, but hopefully it will serve as inspiration for future athletes that will train here and hopefully go on themselves to set a world record one day,' said Mark Lewis, president of the Utah Athletic Foundation.
The commemorative wall is designed to embody the strength of the speed skater, the Olympic heritage of the venue and the beauty of the Utah landscape.
The wall will be updated with each new world record set throughout the speed skating season.
Olympic Speed Skating Gold Medallists Bonnie Blair, the most decorated female speed skater in Olympic history, and Dan Jansen, previous world record holder, both attended the event.
The two skaters smiled as they presented athletes Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt, German world record holder, Hiroyasu Shimizu, Japanese world record holder and Jeremy Wotherspoon, Canadian world record holder, with Utah Olympic Oval world record watches.
The watches embossed with the Olympic speed skating pictogram on the front will be given to each athlete that receives a world record.
'We are excited about the future of this facility, for the legacy that will continue after the Games,' said Nick Thometz, director of the Utah Olympic Oval.