Bobby Fitzgerald

Bobby Fitzgerald never won a national speed skating title because they were dominated by Ken Bartholomew, although he won the North American title in 1946. In 1948 he tied Bartholomew in the 500m at the St. Moritz Olympics, and they shared the silver medal. Fitzgerald also competed on the 1952 Olympic team. During his career, he set three national records. Enlisted in the US Army during World War II, he was discharged for medical reasons in 1944. He recovered after visiting a chiropractor, and decided to become one himself. He had his own practice by 1952, when he competed in his second Olympics, and continued to run it until suffering a stroke in 1998. During his professional career, he was regularly in dispute with other chiropractors, opposing the application of “unpure” chiropractics.

Personal Bests: 500 – 43.1 (1948); 1500 – 2:27.0 (1948); 5000 – 9:28.1 (1948).