KEARNS, Utah (AP) -- Former Olympic champion Derek Parra sounded like a concerned father as he cued up the old 8 millimeter videocassettes of then-17-year-old Heather Richardson making the early transition from inline skating.
"Her first time on ice, she couldn't stand up," Parra recalled of those Bambi-on-ice-like moments at the Utah Olympic Oval in 2007. "I literally had to hold her hand and take her around the rink. It was like teaching somebody to walk again."
Four years later, Richardson not only is steady on her feet, she's No. 1 in the World Cup speedskating rankings at 1,000 meters. If she keeps progressing, she will be a favorite to medal at the Sochi Olympics in 2014.
"I think she has the potential to be a gold medalist in 1,000 meters," said Parra, who won gold for the U.S. men at 1,500 meters in the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
Richardson will take another step toward that goal this weekend when she competes at 1,500 meters in the ISU World Cup long track event at the Utah Olympic Oval. Though not her specialty, long track helps improve her endurance and her speed when she races in the 500 and 1,000 against top competitor Christine Nesbitt of Canada.
And it keeps her focused.
"A lot of people are like, 'Oh, the Olympics are over and we have four more years until the next (Games).' But I just want to stay strong and hope I can keep it up for three more years."
While Richardson tries to stay on top of her game, Germany's Claudia Pechstein aims to regain her form after returning to competition following a two-year ban for doping.
Pechstein, a five-time Olympic champion, last week raced for the first time in 14 months. She posted a time of 4 minutes, 10.05 seconds in the 3,000 meters at a Feb. 12 event in Erfurt, Germany, and clocked 2:01.22 in the 1,500 meters, qualifying her to race in Utah, where she won Olympic gold at 3,000 and 5,000 meters in 2002.
"My comeback doesn't stop at season's end," Pechstein told reporters in announcing her return in Germany on Feb.8. "In 2014, I want to be at the start in Sochi."
Pechstein, through her team manager, declined interviews before this week's competition, which begins Friday with men's 1,500 and women's 5,000. The women's 1,500 and men's 10,000 are set for Saturday.
Pechstein, who turns 39 next week, certainly is familiar with the oval racers call the fastest in the world.
She raced in Utah in December 2009 while appealing her suspension, with hopes of competing in the Vancouver Games. She'd eventually lose her final appeal and wouldn't race again until last week.
Pechstein always has denied doping and never failed a drug test, arguing that a hereditary anomaly was responsible for the abnormal blood levels that led to her ban from the International Skating Union.
While the international media tracks Pechstein's progress, Richardson quietly goes about her business.
On the surface, she is almost painfully shy.
Parra, who brought her into speedskating in 2007 through the Wheels on Ice Program (WHIP), sees a different side emerge when the races start.
"There's something about a race. When the hood comes on, she attacks," said Parra, now outreach director for youth at the Utah Athletic Foundation. "That's where she's made her biggest gains. It showed in Vancouver. She was not afraid to put it on the line."
Richardson finished sixth in the 500 and ninth in the 1,000 in the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, her first Olympics.
From where does that aggressive style come?
Parra traces it to inline skating, which Richardson did for 11 years before making the transition to the ice.
"It's kind of a cave sport, in that no one knows that it exists," said Parra, who comes from the same racing background. "'We competed in roller rinks from 6 in the morning until noon on Sunday, then the public session (started) at 1 and they had no idea there ever was a competition there. There isn't any television, fame or money."
Inline skaters skate because it's their passion.
"She's always been that quiet, shy girl, but when you see that other side come out on the course, it's like something's unleashed," Parra said. "That's what's really great to see about her."
Richardson also remains as humble as ever despite the move up from High Point, N.C., to the U.S. team.
She even works part-time at a Bath & Body Works to help with expenses.
"She still isn't 100 percent technically sound," Parra said. "She still has things to work on in my mind, but she's very efficient in where she is now."
Parra calls Richardson a great ambassador for the sport.
"She's definitely a breath of fresh air to see someone so grateful for what she has and works hard for," Parra said. "I can't say enough about her. She's my favorite. I used to say I wish I had 10 Heathers. She just did the right things."
Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/more/02/17/richardson.skating.ap/index.html?eref=si_latest
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