Barbara Marchetti-DeSchepper
Speedskater
Established three world and five American records in 1950's /Won 11 major Speedskating titles /
National Speedskating Hall of Fame
National Speedskating Hall of Fame
Barbara Marchetti-DeSchepper
Speedskater
Barbara Marchetti-DeSchepper was born in Norway, Michigan. She established three world and five American records while winning 11 major speed skating titles in the 1950s. She set World Records in the indoor mile, ¾ mile and ½ mile and was the only skater ever to simultaneously hold the "big four," National Indoor and Outdoor and North American Indoor and Outdoor titles. Her peak year was 1955 but during her life she was the twelve time National and North American Outdoor and Indoor Champion in the Senior Class and set five National Indoor records. Barbara Marchetti-DeSchepper was elected to the National Speedskating Hall of Fame in 1976 and was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.