Terry McDermott, American Olympic speed skating gold medallist in 1964, dies at 82

Terry McDermott, who won the only gold medal for the United States at the 1964 Winter Olympics, has died. He was 82.

U.S. Speedskating said in a statement posted on social media Monday that McDermott died early Saturday surrounded by his family. It did not immediately specify where the Michigan native died or give a cause.

McDermott was an apprentice barber and unheralded figure on the speed skating scene when he stunningly won the 500-metre event at the Innsbruck Games, upsetting two-time reigning Olympic champion Yevgeny Grishin of the Soviet Union by a half-second.

"The Cold War was going on and it carried over into the Olympics. The Russians came along in '56 and dominated every sport. It was awful hard to beat them in anything," McDermott said in a 2010 interview with MLive Media Group. "So, going against them, you tried a little harder."

McDermott's gold was the only victory by any U.S. athletes at the Innsbruck Games. He proved it wasn't a fluke by taking silver in the 500 four years later at Grenoble.

Known as "The Essexville Rocket," a nod to his Michigan hometown, McDermott was rewarded for his Olympic triumph with a 1964 appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Unfortunately, he was largely overshadowed by the Beatles making their American television debut that same night.

U.S. Speedskating described McDermott as "one of our all-time greats."

"Terry had a massive impact on our sport," the statement said. "Our thoughts are with those that Terry inspired over his many decades in our sport."

The USS family is saddened by the news that one of our all-time greats, Terry McDermott, passed away early Saturday surrounded by his family. Terry had a massive impact on our sport. Our thoughts are with those that Terry