The Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee has renewed its agreement with the United State Olympic Committee and U.S. Speedskating to serve as an official U.S. Olympic training site.
High potential speedskaters will continue to train at the Pettit and national U.S. speedskating competitions will be held at the facility as part of the agreement, which runs through April 30, 2018.
The Pettit opened in December 1992, and was one of the first facilities in the country to earn the Olympic Training Site designation.
“The U.S. Olympic Committee is pleased to continue our long-standing Training Site relationship with The Pettit National Ice Center,” said Alicia McConnell, director of training sites and community partnerships for the U.S. Olympic Committee. “The Pettit Center’s commitment to Team USA and U.S. Speedskating will allow future generations of speedskaters to follow in the footsteps of a long line of Olympic champions that have trained and competed at the Pettit National Ice Center.”
Of the 80 U.S. speedskating medals that have been awarded in the Olympic Winter Games since 1960, 70 have gone to skaters who trained or competed at the Pettit Center and its predecessor the Outdoor Olympic Oval. The Pettit also offers recreational and developmental skating, hockey, figure skating and a run/walk track for the general public.
“We are proud of the Center’s legacy of supporting medal-winning speedskaters for more than 21 years at the Center and nearly 50 years on this site when including the Outdoor Oval,” said Randy Dean, Executive Director. “We are honored to have an important role in returning US speedskaters to the podium for the Games in 2018 and beyond.”
“The Pettit Center plays an incredibly important role in the development of Olympic speedskating in the United States,” said Ted Morris, executive director at U.S. Speedskating. “We are thrilled the USOC continues to recognize the significance of the Pettit Center.”
