Terry McDermott (speed skater)

Terry McDermott

Personal information
Full name	Richard Terrance McDermott
Born	September 20, 1940 (1940-09-20) (age 84) Essexville, Michigan, U.S.
Medal record Men's speed skating Representing the United States Olympic Games 1964 Innsbruck 500 m 1968 Grenoble 500 m

Richard Terrance "Terry" McDermott (nicknamed "The Essexville Rocket") (born September 20, 1940, in Essexville, Michigan) is an American gold and silver medal winning Olympic speed skater.

McDermott was a surprise winner in the 500 m at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck when he beat the favourite in that distance, reigning Olympic champion Yevgeny Grishin, by half a second. His coach at the time was Leo Freisinger, the 500 m bronze medal winner of the 1936 Winter Olympics. McDermott's international career consisted exclusively of the 500 m at the Olympic Winter Games of 1960, 1964 and 1968.

McDermott was inducted in the National Speedskating Hall of Fame on June 4, 1977. At the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, McDermott took the Olympic Oath representing the judges. He currently resides in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He is married to Virginia, and has 5 children and 11 grandchildren.

Broadcaster Jim McKay once said of McDermott, "Terry is the epitome of an amateur athlete."

On February 9, 1964, McDermott was a guest on The Ed Sullivan Show, an appearance that was overshadowed by the first U.S. performance of The Beatles.

References

• Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Richard Terrance "Terry" McDermott". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2016-12-04.
• Biography of Terry McDermott at the Essexville, Bay County, MI / BAY-JOURNAL
• Eng, Trond. All Time International Championships, Complete results 1889–2002. Askim, Norway, WSSSA Skøytenytt, 2002.
• The National Speedskating Museum and Hall of Fame
• Terry McDermott at SkateResults.com