Class of 2006

2006 Inductees
1984 U.S. Olympic Men's Gymnastics Team Evelyn Ashford Herb Brooks Dick Ebersol	Rowdy Gaines Diana Golden-Brosnihan Bob Hayes	Shannon Miller Jack Shea Kristi Yamaguchi

1984 U.S. Olympic Men's Gymnastics Team
Photo: Steve Powell/Allsport/Getty Images
	Bart Conner, Tim Daggett, Mitch Gaylord, Jim Hartung, Scott Johnson, Peter Vidmar At the 1984 Olympic Games, the men's gymnastics team became the first U.S. squad to win the Olympic team gold medal, defeating the defending world champions from China. The U.S. clinched the team gold medal in classic style with Daggett sticking his dismount from the horizontal bar with a perfect 10.0.

Vidmar, the team captain, captured the gold medal on the pommel horse and the silver in the individual all-around, becoming the only American male gymnast to win an Olympic all-around medal. Daggett earned the pommel horse bronze while Conner was golden on the parallel bars. Gaylord earned a total of four medals: a team gold, a silver in the vault and bronze medals in the parallel bars and rings. His score of 59.45 in the team competition was a U.S. record.

Evelyn Ashford
Photo: Steve Powell/Allsport/Getty Images
	A rare five-time U.S. Olympian, Ashford battled injuries and the East Germans in a career that saw her win four Olympic gold medals and one silver. Her crowning moment came in 1984, when she won the 100m dash and anchored the winning 4×100m relay. Following the birth of her baby in 1985, Evelyn returned to the limelight in 1988, earning a silver medal behind Florence Joyner Griffith in Seoul. As her final act, Ashford earned a gold medal on the U.S. 4×100m relay in Barcelona. At 35, she became the oldest woman to ever win an Olympic gold medal in track. She was the first American woman to break 11.0 seconds for 100m, and 22.0 seconds for 200m. She was ranked first in the world four times and was the top-ranked American seven times.

Evelyn Ashford

Photo: Steve Powell/Allsport/Getty Images

A rare five-time U.S. Olympian, Ashford battled injuries and the East Germans in a career that saw her win four Olympic gold medals and one silver. Her crowning moment came in 1984, when she won the 100m dash and anchored the winning 4×100m relay. Following the birth of her baby in 1985, Evelyn returned to the limelight in 1988, earning a silver medal behind Florence Joyner Griffith in Seoul. As her final act, Ashford earned a gold medal on the U.S. 4×100m relay in Barcelona. At 35, she became the oldest woman to ever win an Olympic gold medal in track. She was the first American woman to break 11.0 seconds for 100m, and 22.0 seconds for 200m. She was ranked first in the world four times and was the top-ranked American seven times.

Herb Brooks
Photo: Getty Images/NHLI
	Brooks, the architect of the ‘Miracle on Ice,' took a group of college-aged hockey players and turned them into a gold-medal winning team, shocking the world and energizing a nation with what Sports Illustrated called the greatest sports moment of the 20th Century. Before he worked his miracle, Herb Brooks was a player. He was the last one cut from the 1960 U.S. Olympic hockey team that won gold, but went on to play for Team USA in 1964 and 1968. He was the team captain in 1968. As an Olympic coach, Brooks earned the gold medal in 1980 and a silver in 2002 for the U.S. For the ‘Class of 2006′ the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame added a new category of coach. Fittingly, Brooks was the first coach chosen for this new category.

Herb Brooks

Photo: Getty Images/NHLI

Brooks, the architect of the ‘Miracle on Ice,' took a group of college-aged hockey players and turned them into a gold-medal winning team, shocking the world and energizing a nation with what Sports Illustrated called the greatest sports moment of the 20th Century. Before he worked his miracle, Herb Brooks was a player. He was the last one cut from the 1960 U.S. Olympic hockey team that won gold, but went on to play for Team USA in 1964 and 1968. He was the team captain in 1968. As an Olympic coach, Brooks earned the gold medal in 1980 and a silver in 2002 for the U.S. For the ‘Class of 2006′ the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame added a new category of coach. Fittingly, Brooks was the first coach chosen for this new category.

Dick Ebersol
Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
	Ebersol began his career at the age of 19, by serving as an Olympic researcher under Roone Arledge at ABC Sports. Named Chairman of NBC Universal Sports & Olympics in 2004, Ebersol secured NBC Universal as the home of the Olympic Games through the year 2012. Ebersol has been involved in 18 Olympic telecasts. NBC's coverage of 2002 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony was honored with 11 Sports Emmy Awards, and six Emmy Awards. The International Olympic Committee has commended Ebersol's work. In 1992, Ebersol was awarded the ‘Olympic Order', the IOC's highest honor, for his outstanding contributions to the Olympic Movement.

Dick Ebersol

Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Ebersol began his career at the age of 19, by serving as an Olympic researcher under Roone Arledge at ABC Sports. Named Chairman of NBC Universal Sports & Olympics in 2004, Ebersol secured NBC Universal as the home of the Olympic Games through the year 2012. Ebersol has been involved in 18 Olympic telecasts. NBC's coverage of 2002 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony was honored with 11 Sports Emmy Awards, and six Emmy Awards. The International Olympic Committee has commended Ebersol's work. In 1992, Ebersol was awarded the ‘Olympic Order', the IOC's highest honor, for his outstanding contributions to the Olympic Movement.

Rowdy Gaines
Photo: Bud Symes/Getty Images
	Gaines was named World Swimmer of the Year in 1980 after setting world records in both the 100m and 200m freestyles. He was looking at five possible gold medals in Moscow. But there were no Games that summer. After a brief retirement, Gaines returned, working as a hotel night clerk to finance his Olympic dream, which came true in 1984, when Gaines won three gold medals in Los Angeles.

In 1991 Rowdy was hospitalized with Guillan-Barre Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that paralyzes the entire nervous system, and told that even if he lived, he might never walk again, but Gaines not only recovered but went on to win two World Master's titles ... only after he relearned to tie his shoes and brush his teeth. He even qualified for the 1996 Olympic Trials at 35.

Diana Golden-Brosnihan
Diana Golden was a pioneer and legend in the U.S. Paralympic Movement. Golden, who lost her right leg to cancer at 12, became the first disabled skier inducted into the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame and named U.S. Skier of the Year in 1988. She won 10 gold medals at the World Disabled Ski Championships and 19 national titles. Golden led Team USA to a medal sweep at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, when disabled skiing was a demonstration sport. She began racing in able-bodied events leading U.S. Skiing to establish the "Golden Rule," which enabled disabled skiers in able-bodied events to race as early seeds in all USSA-sanctioned events, allowing them to avoid ruts that form throughout the competition.

Diana Golden-Brosnihan

Diana Golden was a pioneer and legend in the U.S. Paralympic Movement. Golden, who lost her right leg to cancer at 12, became the first disabled skier inducted into the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame and named U.S. Skier of the Year in 1988. She won 10 gold medals at the World Disabled Ski Championships and 19 national titles. Golden led Team USA to a medal sweep at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, when disabled skiing was a demonstration sport. She began racing in able-bodied events leading U.S. Skiing to establish the "Golden Rule," which enabled disabled skiers in able-bodied events to race as early seeds in all USSA-sanctioned events, allowing them to avoid ruts that form throughout the competition.

Bob Hayes
Hayes dominated the track at the 1964 Olympic Games. He won the 100-meter dash in Tokyo with a 10.05, which tied the world record. Hayes beat the field by four full meters; the most dominating win since Jesse Owens in 1936. Many people believe that his relay anchor leg was even more amazing. When Bullet Bob Hayes took the baton, Team USA was trailing several teams by several meters. Hayes overtook the field in a blink of an eye, just a third of the way through his leg, and cross the line three meters in front, cementing his reputation as ‘the fastest man alive'. Hayes gave up track to run on the gridiron. In 1972, Hayes became the only man in history to wear an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring.

Bob Hayes

Hayes dominated the track at the 1964 Olympic Games. He won the 100-meter dash in Tokyo with a 10.05, which tied the world record. Hayes beat the field by four full meters; the most dominating win since Jesse Owens in 1936. Many people believe that his relay anchor leg was even more amazing. When Bullet Bob Hayes took the baton, Team USA was trailing several teams by several meters. Hayes overtook the field in a blink of an eye, just a third of the way through his leg, and cross the line three meters in front, cementing his reputation as ‘the fastest man alive'. Hayes gave up track to run on the gridiron. In 1972, Hayes became the only man in history to wear an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring.

Shannon Miller
Photo: Jerry T. Lai/Getty Images
	Miller retired as the most decorated American gymnast in history, winning seven Olympic and nine World Championship medals as a dominate force for the U.S. from 1990-1996. In 1992, she became the first American to qualify for all four individual event finals at an Olympic Games after dislocating her elbow just four months before the Games. She finished with five medals: two silvers and three bronze.

Shannon Miller

Photo: Jerry T. Lai/Getty Images

Miller retired as the most decorated American gymnast in history, winning seven Olympic and nine World Championship medals as a dominate force for the U.S. from 1990-1996. In 1992, she became the first American to qualify for all four individual event finals at an Olympic Games after dislocating her elbow just four months before the Games. She finished with five medals: two silvers and three bronze.

She missed winning the all-around by just .012 of a point. In 1993 and 1994, she became the first gymnast to ever win back-to-back all-around World titles. In 1996, Miller, as the leader of the ‘Magnificent Seven,' earned two gold medals - both were first's in American gymnastics - in the team competition and on the balance beam. In her career, Miller won 58 international and 49 national medals - over half of which were gold.

Jack Shea
Shea was the patriarch of the only three-generation Olympic family and a Lake Placid icon. He earned gold medals in the 500- and 1500-meters in speedskating at the 1932 Olympic Winter Games, held in his native Lake Placid. He was chosen to read the Olympic oath during the Opening Ceremonies. Shea chose not to compete at the 1936 Olympic Games, held in Germany, in deference to the wishes of Lake Placid residents who opposed Adolf Hitler and his anti-Semitism campaign. Shea's son Jim Shea, Sr., competed in the Nordic combined and cross-country skiing at the 1964 Olympic Winter Games. Shea's grandson won a gold medal in skeleton at the 2002 Salt Lake Games.

Jack Shea

Shea was the patriarch of the only three-generation Olympic family and a Lake Placid icon. He earned gold medals in the 500- and 1500-meters in speedskating at the 1932 Olympic Winter Games, held in his native Lake Placid. He was chosen to read the Olympic oath during the Opening Ceremonies. Shea chose not to compete at the 1936 Olympic Games, held in Germany, in deference to the wishes of Lake Placid residents who opposed Adolf Hitler and his anti-Semitism campaign. Shea's son Jim Shea, Sr., competed in the Nordic combined and cross-country skiing at the 1964 Olympic Winter Games. Shea's grandson won a gold medal in skeleton at the 2002 Salt Lake Games.

Kristi Yamaguchi
Photo: Bob Martin/Getty Images
	Yamaguchi is known for her elegant charm and graceful style on the ice, however, as a young child, that grace did not come easily. She began figure skating as physical therapy for her clubbed feet, but soon discovered that she had a natural talent. After several years of success competing in pairs, Yamaguchi placed her focus solely on singles, winning back-to-back World titles in 1991 and 1992. To top off a seemingly fairy-tale year, Yamaguchi won the gold medal in ladies singles at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games, becoming the first American woman to win gold since Dorothy Hamill.

Kristi Yamaguchi

Photo: Bob Martin/Getty Images

Yamaguchi is known for her elegant charm and graceful style on the ice, however, as a young child, that grace did not come easily. She began figure skating as physical therapy for her clubbed feet, but soon discovered that she had a natural talent. After several years of success competing in pairs, Yamaguchi placed her focus solely on singles, winning back-to-back World titles in 1991 and 1992. To top off a seemingly fairy-tale year, Yamaguchi won the gold medal in ladies singles at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games, becoming the first American woman to win gold since Dorothy Hamill.

Class of 2006

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