N.C. skater will be busy

Heather Richardson wants to be a dental hygienist when she leaves the ice.

For now, though, she's happy to be an Olympian.

Richardson, who is from High Point, has qualified for the Vancouver Olympics in three events as a U.S. speedskater.

Richardson, 20, has a similar background to Lauren Cholewinski, the speedskater from Rock Hill, S.C. Both are young Southerners who plan to make this the first of at least two Olympics.

They competed for years against each other as two of the best inline skaters in the country. They are now fast friends - and rivals - on the ice.

"We always room together when we go to competitions," Richardson said. "It's really exciting we get to experience this together."

While Cholewinski qualified in a single Olympic event - the 500-meter race - Richardson will be busier in Vancouver. She qualified for the U.S. team in the 500, 1,000 and 1,500.

"The 1,000 is my best event," she said. "If you mess up just once in the 500, you're pretty much out of that race. And in the 1,500, I'm not quite at the endurance level I need to be yet."

Richardson's parents were competitive roller skaters and have financially supported her athletic dreams. Shortly after she graduated from High Point Central High, her parents took her to Utah and dropped her off so she could train full-time for possible Olympic and national-team berths.

Richardson had already made national teams before, but as an inline skater. The wheels-to-ice switch has been performed several times by Southern skaters who went on to the Olympics - most notably by Joey Cheek, who grew up skating in a roller rink in Greensboro and eventually became a gold medalist.

Richardson said she does not expect to medal in any event this year but said she will do her best. She holds out more hope for a medal in the 2014 Olympics in Russia.

Her 2010 Winter Olympic events are scheduled Feb.16, 18 and 21.