Eric Heiden is an American former long track speed skater who won five gold medals at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. He is the most decorated American athlete in Olympic history and is considered one of the greatest speed skaters of all time. Heiden also won the World Allround Speed Skating Championships for Men in 1979 and 1981. Heiden retired from speed skating in 1984 and went on to become a physician.