Jeanne Marie Omelenchuk

Jeanne Marie Omelenchuck

Speed Skater
Cyclist

Jeanne Omelenchuck was born in Detroit, Michigan and attended Southeastern High School moving on to Wayne State University for both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. Omelenchuck went on to win 16 national speed skating titles, more than any other speed skater. She qualified for three Olympic teams (1960, 1968, 1972) although she never won a medal. Omelenchuck also won speed skating masters championships from 1984 – 1987. Speed skating was only one of her passions as she was also a champion cyclist. Omelenchuck won five cycling championships (1952, 1955, 1978, 1979, 1980), she is the first woman to win national championships in two major sports. Jeanne Omelenchuck was inducted into the Wayne State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1979, the Michigan Amateur Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981, the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993, the Amateur Skating Union Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1984. She passed away on June 26, 2008 at 77 years of age.