Amazing Moments in Olympic History: The Shea Family Legacy

USOC January 21, 2009

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Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Jim Shea (center) with his grandfather, Jack (left), and father Jim Sr., after Shea qualified for the US Olympic Skeleton Team after the Skeleton World Cup at Mt. Van Hoevenberg on December 20, 2001 in Lake Placid, New York.

On January 22, 2002, the U.S. Olympic family lost a treasured member, Jack Shea.  Born in Lake Placid in 1910, Shea won two gold medals in speed skating at the 1932 Olympic Winter Games held in his hometown.  It was just the beginning of his lifelong involvement with the Olympic movement and enduring family legacy.  Shea went on to become the patriarch of the first family to produce three generations of Olympians with his son Jim Sr.'s participation in skiing at the Innsbruck 1964 Olympic Winter Games and his grandson, Jim Jr.'s qualification to compete in skeleton at the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games. 

Sadly Jack passed away just prior to the 2002 Games and was not able to see Jim Jr. take the Olympic oath during Opening Ceremonies as he had 70 years before.  Jim Jr. went on to win a gold medal in skeleton, which he attributes to having his grandfather's spirit riding with him during competition.

In celebration of Jack Shea's life and contributions to the Olympic movement, we take a look at the amazing moments in the ongoing Shea Family legacy.

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"Amazing Moments in Olympic History" will be published every Wednesday on teamusa.org.  Check back weekly to see more landmark achievements and incredible feats in the history of Team USA and the Olympic Movement.

Tags: 1932, 1964, 2002, Amazing Moments, Gold Medalists, Innsbruck, Jack Shea, Jim Shea Jr., Jim Shea Sr., Lake Placid, Salt Lake City, Shea, Skeleton, Skiing, Speed Skating