Floyd Bedbury

As a young boy, Floyd Bedbury wrote down his goals as winning city, state, and national championships in speed skating. He later said he didn’t know about the Olympics or he would have included that as well. Bedbury competed for the Midway Skating Club and attended the University of Minnesota. But prior to college, Bedbury moved to Hamar, Norway to learn metric-style speed skating, living there in a youth hostel. He learned enough to make two US Olympic speed skating teams, and set US records in the 1,500, 5,000, and 10K races. Bedbury also competed in cycling, winning five Minnesota state road titles. After college, he became a lithographer, before retiring after 42 years. He also coached junior speed skaters with Twin City Speed Skating, a club he helped form in 1964.

Personal Bests: 500 – 42.4 (1959); 1500 – 2:11.0 (1963); 5000 – 8:11.2 (1966); 10000 – 17:26.3 (1959).