Quick Facts

Name	Chad Hedrick
Nickname	The Exception/ The Paris Hilton of Speedskating
Birthdate	April 17, 1977
Age	45 years old
Birthplace	Spring, Texas, USA
Parents	Paul Hedrick & Wanda Hedrick
Sibling	Natalie Hedrick
Height	5’10″/1.78 m
Weight	78 kg/172 lb
Body type	Athletic
Eye color	Light brown
Hair color	Black
Skin	Fair
Education	Brill, Strack, and Klein High
Profession	Speed skater Figure skater
Current status	Retired
Olympic accomplishments	3 medals (Gold, Silver & Bronze)
Skill	Double push
Relationship status	Married
Wife	Lynsey Elizabeth Adams
Marriage Date	June 7, 2008.
Wedding location	Houston, Texas
Featured TV show	“Whose Wedding Is It Anyway”
Children	Hadley, Harper, and Hogan
Social Media	Instagram Twitter
Brand	DP52 Racing
Net Worth	$18 million
Merch	Olympic Cut Signature, Autographed FDC
Last Update	May, 2022

Chad Hedrick is a well-known figure. His DP (Double Push) method has transformed the world of inline speed skating. Hedrick has 50 global titles and 93 national titles to his credit. In addition, he owns a range of inline skating wheels that bears his name.

What is Chad Hedrick’s Salary and Net Worth?

Chad Hedrick  has amassed a wealth as a result of his speed skating and ice skating careers.

He is currently a licensed realtor with eXp Realty, where he works on properties ranging from gold to sold.

His net worth is believed to be over $18 million.

Chad Hedrick’s Childhood and Background

Chad was born on April 17, 1977, and is an inline speed skater. His father, Paul Hedrick, and mother, Wanda Hedrick, gave birth to him.

He and his sister, Natalie, grew raised in the little Texas town of Spring. Hedrick has also been skating since he was two years old.

Soon after, he began skating with his friends at his parents’ rink.

Chad was also a National Champion when he was just eight years old. Since then, he has grown at an exponential rate, becoming World Champion at the age of sixteen.

Furthermore, the double push became a nickname for the method he utilized frequently. Then it became a norm for elite skaters all around the world to show off their skills and expertise.

Chad Hedrick | Wife, Children, and Marriage

Chad is a happily married man with a wonderful family who is always there for him. On June 7, 2008, he married his long-time lover, Elizabeth Adams.

Their wedding ceremony took place in Houston, Texas, in front of a small group of guests at a private setting.

Their wedding was also featured on the Style Network reality show “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?”

In addition, the couple welcomed their first kid in 2009, not long after their marriage. Hadley, their oldest child, was born in March 2009.

In addition, Harper, their second daughter, was born in December 2010. In 2014, the couple had their third child, a son called Hogan.

Chad Hedrick  Skating Career

Inline speed skating

Derek Parra, a former inline skater turned ice skater, was an inspiration to Chad. After Derek won the gold medal at the 2002 Olympics, he was awestruck.

As a result, Chad Hedrick decided to switch to the Ice.

Chad won the World All-round Speed Skating Championships in February 2004 after only one year of ice training.

Chad even broke the world record by lowering it to 150.478 points throughout the competition.

He also established six world records by being the first man to skate 6.2 miles (10,000 meters) in less than 13 minutes.

Moreover, on March 12, 2004, Chad lived up to his reputation by capturing the gold medal in the 5,000 meters race. Seoul, South Korea hosted the World Single Distance Championships.

Hedrick also successfully defended his 5,000m world championship at Inzell, Germany, in the same year.

In 2005, he was defeated by Shani Davis in the World All-round Speed Skating Championships.

Despite this, Hedrick, called The Exception, has remained a well-known personality, placing third in an unofficial global ranking.

The Formidable Ice Man

Because of his ability and brilliance on the ice, Chad Hedrick gained the moniker “Iceman” from his adoring fans.

Despite being new to skating, Chad did not disappoint and continued to develop each time. He was also given the Oscar Mathisen Statuette in 2004 just a few years after his debut.

Similarly, the award is granted solely to the best speed skater performance in the world for that particular year.

Hedrick also established himself as one of the world’s greatest long-distance skaters. Between November and December of 2005, he established world records in the 10,000, 5,000, and 1,500 meters, proving his worth.

Chad Hedrick’s Olympic Career

Chad opted to go to the Winter Olympics in 2006 in order to win the three major events. Hedrick also projected that he would tie Eric Heiden for the most gold medals with five.

His legacy was cemented when he won gold in the 2006 Olympic Winter Games (5,000m event). Chad defeated top challenger Sven Kramer of the Netherlands to win the coveted honor.

Shani Davis and Chad, on the other hand, got into a fight during the team chase. Shani chose not to compete since it would conflict with his 1,000m event, which sparked the incident.

Davis, on the other hand, should have run in the race to help bolster their roster, according to Hedrick.

Shani also made the correct option by opting out of the team pursuit, according to Eric Heiden, an Olympic team physician and five-time gold medalist.

Furthermore, it would have jeopardized Davis’s chances of winning the gold medal, which he eventually achieved.

As a result of the absence of Shani Davis, the US pursuit team struggled and finished sixth.

Despite this, Chad earned three medals at the conclusion of the Olympics. He also became the third American to win three straight Olympic medals in figure skating.

Chad has continues to compete internationally in speed skating, finishing fourth in the 2008 World All-around tournament.

A legacy left behind.

At the age of 17 months, Chad Hedrick, one of the most renowned ice speed skaters, trod on a pair of inline skaters.

Chad put his sights on greatness after that tragic incident. He won 52 World Championships and nine World Overall Championships in a row.

In addition, in 2002, he moved to ice skating and won the World All-around Championship in less than two years.

All good things must come to an end, and Chad announced his retirement in 2010, at the age of 33.

The talented skater now spends his time giving motivational lectures all around the United States. Chad also gives his time to the ministry of “Double Push.”

He speaks to the audience on how his faith was crucial in his success in the initiative.

Along with these endeavors, he founded “DP52 Racing,” a speed skating equipment firm.

He has also organized the ‘Chad Hedrick Foundation,’ which has collected thousands of dollars for the Special Olympics.

Chad Hedrick (Age, Height, and Weight)

Chad, a former ice speed skater, has kept his athletic figure in shape at the age of 45. As he periodically exhibits his prowess on Ice, he is a perfect illustration of the phrase “age is just a number.”

He also maintains his fitness with tight diets and a daily training program.

Hedrick is a robust man who is 5 feet and 10 inches tall. He also weights roughly 78 kg.

Chad is as light as a feather on the Ice, despite his enormous physical height. Furthermore, his adaptability has helped him to perform quick moves with precision.

Honors and Awards

Chad is one of the greatest speed skaters of all time. On the ice, he has acquired the nickname “The Exception” for his outstanding talent and skills.

Throughout his career, Chad has won several medals, accolades, and distinctions in both inline and ice contests.

Chad Hedrick | U.S. and World Roller Speed Skating Records

• (3,000m relay race) National roller skating record in 1993 
• (5,000m relay race) National inline skating record in 1998 
• (1,000 and 1,500m race) The National outdoor track record in 1998 and 1999
• (3,000m-male-female relay race) National inline skating record in 1998
• (15,000m race) National outdoor track record in 1998 
• (1,500m race) National inline skating record in 1996
• (500 and 1,000m) National outdoor road record in 2001 
• (1,500m race) National outdoor road record in 1998
• (10,000m race) National outdoor road record in 2001
• (1,500m race) World outdoor road record in 1999 
• (10,000m race) World outdoor road record in 1996 
• (15,000 m race) World outdoor road record in 2000 

Chad Hedrick | Athletic accomplishments, Awards & Honors

Hedrick is a six-time World Record Holder

• All-round samalog-150.478 (Hamar, Norway, February 8, 2004)
• 5000 m, 6.09,68 (Calgary, Canada, November 13, 2005)
• 10000 m, 12.55,11 (Salt Lake City, USA, December 31, 2005)
• 3000 m, 3.39,02 (Calgary, Canada, March 10, 2005)
• All-round samalog, 148.799 (Calgary, Canada, January 22, 2006)
• 1500 m, 1.42,78 (Salt Lake City, USA, November 18, 2005)

Chad Hedrick | FAQs

Is there bad blood between Chad and Shani Davis?

No, the controversy between the duo was because of professional reasons. So, no bad blood at the moment.

Is Chad Hedrick a real estate agent?

Yes, the renowned Olympian has also dipped his toes in the real estate waters. He specializes in Buyer’s Agents, Listing agents, Commercial Real Estate, Luxury Listing specialists, Luxury Home Marketing, and so on.

You can find more about his real estate journey on Compass.

Is Chad Hedrick active?

Chad is active in other activities, such as handling his brand and traveling across the country, giving motivational speeches based on faith.

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