SOUTH WAYNE - Todd Schiferl hopes that his U.S. Olympic speed skating nephew will be the answer to a trivia question as the next gold medalist from Wisconsin.
Schiferl, of South Wayne, will take a five-day hiatus from his carpenter job to make the journey to Vancouver to watch his nephew, Tucker Fredricks, skate for gold in the Winter Olympics. Schiferl along with his wife Kim are leaving today for Vancouver.
"We are trying to make a mini vacation out of it. There are not many people that know," Schiferl said of being Fredricks' uncle. "It's been exciting. I can't even imagine what he feels like. I'm very proud of him. It's an overwhelming feeling."
Fredricks, a 2002 Janesville Craig alum, is the American record-holder in the 500-meters after claiming the top spot at the Olympic Trials in Milwaukee in October. He is making his second Olympic bid.
He placed 25th in the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy. After winning gold and silver medals in a recent World Cup competition, he is primed to medal at this year's Winter Games.
Fredricks will compete in two 500-meter races Monday night.
"To be able to have someone qualify for the Olympics let alone be ranked in the world is an unbelievable feeling," Schiferl said his nephew.
According to Schiferl, Fredricks started skating when he was 2-years-old, he could tell he was talented. He went on and played hockey and raced in some fastest skating competitions.
"I knew his core strength was unbelievable when he was younger," Schiferl said. "He had the speed where he could skate circles around anybody."
Fredricks is looking to extend the streak of U.S. gold medalists in the 500-meters. Casey FitzRandolph of Verona won the gold in 2002 and Joey Cheek won in 2006.
"I never dreamed it would come to this," Schiferl said.
Schiferl, of South Wayne, will take a five-day hiatus from his carpenter job to make the journey to Vancouver to watch his nephew, Tucker Fredricks, skate for gold in the Winter Olympics. Schiferl along with his wife Kim are leaving today for Vancouver.
"We are trying to make a mini vacation out of it. There are not many people that know," Schiferl said of being Fredricks' uncle. "It's been exciting. I can't even imagine what he feels like. I'm very proud of him. It's an overwhelming feeling."
Fredricks, a 2002 Janesville Craig alum, is the American record-holder in the 500-meters after claiming the top spot at the Olympic Trials in Milwaukee in October. He is making his second Olympic bid.
He placed 25th in the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy. After winning gold and silver medals in a recent World Cup competition, he is primed to medal at this year's Winter Games.
Fredricks will compete in two 500-meter races Monday night.
"To be able to have someone qualify for the Olympics let alone be ranked in the world is an unbelievable feeling," Schiferl said his nephew.
According to Schiferl, Fredricks started skating when he was 2-years-old, he could tell he was talented. He went on and played hockey and raced in some fastest skating competitions.
"I knew his core strength was unbelievable when he was younger," Schiferl said. "He had the speed where he could skate circles around anybody."
Fredricks is looking to extend the streak of U.S. gold medalists in the 500-meters. Casey FitzRandolph of Verona won the gold in 2002 and Joey Cheek won in 2006.
"I never dreamed it would come to this," Schiferl said.
