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CATHY TURNER YOU ARE ENOUGH. BY NICOLE HEROUX WILLIAMS I PHOTOS BY NSP STUDIO PHOTOS BY BRODY WHEELER
Rochester Woman Online is very proud, and honored to have had the chance to sit down with 2x Olympic Gold medalist speed skater, singer, mother, local celebrity, and well the list is just endless of this ladies talents... Please welcome Cathy Turner as our latest RWO cover woman.
childhood dream was really coming true! I just kept saying to myself, “Wow, this is it! This is REALLY it! I won! I won!” Then I wish they could just play the anthem one more time…”Hey guys,
She has an incredible story, is a true inspiration and mentor, and well lets just say we had a lot of laughs during our eight hour photo session. From playing dress up, to talking about how I had a crush on Apollo Anton Ono and so much more. We hope you enjoy our Q&A with her and get to know more about this amazing Rochesterian that just happens to be an Olympian too! Tell us about who Cathy Turner is. Where were you born? Do you have brothers and sisters? Do you have any children? I was born and raised in Rochester, NY. I have a brother and 2 beautiful daughters, Britney (22) and Bayli (20). You are best known for being a 2x Olympic Gold Medal in short-track speed skating... What has that been like? It still feels like a dream to me. I do get really excited when I watch old videos of my races. It’s kind of like I’m cheering that person on that I’m watching and then I realize it’s me! LOL When I was on the podium, it was surreal. My 20
ROCHESTER WOMAN ONLINE : AUGUST EDITION 2021
I get it now! Please, one more time!” It really does go by so fast and by the time you start to actually feel it, it’s over and you’re asking yourself, “What just happened?!” When I arrived home, there were thousands of people at the airport
to celebrate my return. Then came parades, appearances and non-stop travel all over the country to attend celebrity functions and dinners. The whirlwind had begun. I had become an Olympic Champion and I was one of only 4 gold medalists – all women - that year. Then it all happened again in 1994. You came out of retirement to capture a gold medal at the sport’s Olympic debut (1992). What made you decide to try and make a come back? It was the last Saturday in August after the 1988 Olympics that changed my whole life. That’s the day I decided, out of the blue, to skate again. I remember reading a newspaper article about a former teammate of mine who had just competed in the Olympics and I was like, “I can do that too! That IS me!” and that’s when my Mom said, “Maybe that’s what you should do.” I couldn’t believe it! I had just gotten the “go-ahead” from my Mom who had always believed in me. Thanks Mom! Today, we talk about that day and how I actually went on to win a real Olympic Gold medal….then I say, “OMG, Mom, I won TWO!” and then we both tear up and chills come over us. It’s still unbelievable. What made you pick speed skating? I was a bit of a Tomboy when I was young
