A Minnesotan has competed at the Winter Olympics since those Games began in France in 1924, when Richard Donovan represented the state in speedskating and finished eighth in the 5,000 meters and ninth in the 10,000. Four years earlier, St. Paul's Anthony Conroy, John Edward Fitzgerald and Cyril Weidenborner and White Bear Lake's Frank Goheen helped the U.S. win the silver medal when hockey was introduced in the Summer Games.
After nearly 100 years of the Winter Games, athletes born in our state have earned 103 medals, according to Star Tribune research. There have been Winter Olympics medal winners who played on college and professional teams in the state, but this list features Minnesota-born medal-winners. Here's a look at each of them and the contributions they made toward those accolades.
1936: Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Phil LaBatte, St. Paul, bronze, hockey: Was the first Gopher to play in Olympics; defenseman recorded two assists in a 2-0 opening win over Czechoslovakia.
1948: St. Moritz
Robert Fitzgerald, Minneapolis, speedskating, silver: Finished in a three-way tie for second place in the 500-meter event.
1952: Oslo
Reuben Bjorkman, Roseau, silver, hockey: Tallied three goals in eight games to help U.S. secure the silver medal.
Andre Gambucci, Eveleth, silver, hockey: Forward finished with four goals and two assists for U.S. in Oslo.
John Noah, Crookston, silver, hockey: Defenseman played in eight games and had one assist as the U.S. went 6-1-1 in Olympic play.
Arnie Oss Jr., Minneapolis, silver, hockey: Played defenseman and still led U.S. scoring with seven goals and four assists.