Gabel, Andy

Andrew Gabel

Sport:
speed skating

Country Represented:
United States

Years Competed:
1988, 1992, 1994, 1998

Medals Received:
silver

Olympic Info:
Gabel competed in four Olympiads for the U.S. speed skating team. His first Olympic appearance was in 1988, when speed skating (Short Track) was a demonstration sport, and his last Olympic Games was came in 1998, at the age of 33; Gabel was called "Grandpa" by his teammates. At the 1994 Lillehammer (Norway) Games Andy won his only medal, a silver, in the 5,000-meter relay. That year, he also reached the quarterfinals of the 500-meter sprint, but was knocked out of the race in a collision with a Chinese skater, who was disqualified. Gabel, however, was not advanced to the semifinals.

In 1998, Gabel, then an investment banker, decided to try for another medal at the Olympics. At the U.S. Olympic trials, Andy won every race but one, setting American records in the 1,000-meter and 500-meter races. At the Nagano Winter Games, he competed in three events, with his best finish in the 1,000-meter when he finished fourth (1:33.518). Gabel made it to the consolation finals in the 500-meter and finished seventh overall (43.072). He was also a member of the 5,000-meter relay team, which finished fifth with a time of 7:02.014.

Career Highlights:
Gabel, who won seven medals at the Winter World University Games between 1985-1991, was a member of the U.S. long track team from 1981-1989 before moving indoors to the short track. At the 1994 Goodwill Games, he finished third in the 1000-meter race, and fifth in the 500-meter.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. Dec. 23, 1964

Origin:
Chicago, Illinois

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