Winter Olympics 1976 through 1992
1976 Innsbruck, Austria
Innsbruck was not the first choice to host. Funding and environmental issues kept the games out of the planned host Denver, Colorado. More than one thousand athletes from 37 nations participated in 37 events. Ice dancing made its Olympic debut. The ice saw another first when U.S. figure skater Terry Kubicka successfully performed a back flip.
1980 Lake Placid, New York
The highlights of these games - especially for Americans - were found on the ice. The U.S. hockey team garnered the gold in a surprising upset. And, U.S. speed skater Eric Heiden surpassed Lydia Skoblikova's record of four gold medals in one program by sweeping the speed skating races - earning all five medals.
1984 Sarajevo, Yugoslavia **
For the first time in Winter Olympic history, a Socialist country hosted the Games. Cross-country skier Marja-Liisa Kirvesmiemi-Hämäläinen grabbed the gold in all three cross-country events (5k, 10k and 20k). She is the only woman to have competed in six Winter Olympics (1976-1994). (*now Bosnia/Herzegovina)
1988 Calgary, Canada
Jamaica made its surprising debut with a four-man bobsled team. The Games were extended to 16 days. East German skater, Christa Luding-Rothenburger won two medals for speed skating. Later that year, Luding-Rothenburger medaled during the 1988 Seoul Games. That win made her the first, and currently only, athlete in any sport to have won medals in both the Winter and Summer Olympics in the same year.
1992 Albertville, France
The Albertville Games were the final Winter Olympics held in the same year as the Summer Olympics. American fans were thrilled to watch as Kristi Yamaguchi grabbed the gold in women's figure skating -- something that had eluded the U.S. athletes for two decades. New events were added to the Albertville program, including women's biathalon, freestyle skiing and short-track speed skating.
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