Janet Goldman, MD Obstetrics/Gynecology Meadowview Obstetrics and Gynecology

March 11, 2010

Before Dr. Goldman was an OB/GYN at Meadowview, she was on the US Olympic speed skating team in 1984 and 1988. In the spirit of the winter Olympics, we sat down to talk with Dr. Goldman about her Olympic experience.

Q. How did you get into speed skating?
A. I actually started figure skating when I was 4 years old.  My mother enjoyed figure skating and enrolled my brother and me in lessons. I had no grace, but always enjoyed the relay races at the end of practice. So when I was 9, I switched over to speed skating. 

Q. Did you always want to become an Olympic athlete?
A. I enjoyed the practices and the competition and kept wanting to improve. I never thought about the Olympics until 1980.  That year I qualified to compete at the Olympic Trials.  After that, I set my goal toward making the 1984 Olympic team.  

Q. What were your Olympic experiences like?
A. It was a blast! I remember Sarajevo in 1984 felt very far from home.  So it was amazing to walk into the stadium during the opening ceremony and hear everyone cheering. 

Q. The winter Olympics were hosted in Vancouver this year, did you enjoy your time in Canada when Calgary hosted in 1988?
A. Yes, I remember they had a great program. Local families welcomed families of athletes to stay in their homes.  My parents and brother stayed with a host family.  Also, some friends from college decided it was a great opportunity for a road trip and they came to watch. 

Q. What was going through your mind before skating?
A. I really tried to focus on the race. I’m sure I was nervous, but I was not in contention for a medal and didn’t feel the pressure like some did.  

Q. How did you transition your career from being an Olympic athlete to being a physician?
A. The ability to have tunnel vision is good for both careers in terms of focusing on one goal. In 1982, I took time off after high school to focus on skating. After the 1988 Olympics, I had one more year of college and then went on to medical school.  Speed skating was fun and thrilling for me, but I knew at some point I would have to move on.  Even when I took time off after high school to skate I knew I was eventually going to go to college. It was how I was raised. I’m from a medical family. My father is a retired pathologist and my brother is a surgeon. 

Dr. Goldman is a practicing OB/GYN at Meadowview Obstetrics and Gynecology located in the Seton Professional Building on the Columbia St. Mary’s Ozaukee campus.