Dan Jansen
Perseverance & Perspective
Dan Janssen is considered the best speed skater in the world in the late 80's and early 90's, yet never earned an Olympic medal.
After stumbling in the 500 in the '94 Lillehamer Games, Jansen stunned the world, setting a world record in the 1,000 meters, his final race, and gave the Tonya and Nancy Olympics the feel-good story of the Games. Jansen capped his emotional win with one of the Olympics' most famous victory laps, cradling his daughter, Jane, whom he named after his sister.
Jansen now lives in Mooresville, N.C., with his wife Karen Palacios and is heavily involved in the Dan Jansen Foundation, which raises money for leukemia patients. But before Jansen could get to the Olympics this year, this time as a commentator appearing on "another network," Page 2's Ray Holloman slowed down the iced oval's king of speed.