Which athlete won 5 gold medals in speed skating at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics?

The athlete who won 5 gold medals in speed skating at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics is Eric Heiden. His remarkable achievement made him a standout athlete in Olympic history, as he not only captured gold in all five individual events he competed in—500 meters, 1,000 meters, 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters, and 10,000 meters—but he did so while breaking multiple Olympic records. His prowess and dominance in speed skating during those Games solidified his legacy in the sport.

The other athletes listed, while accomplished in their respective sports, did not compete in speed skating during those Olympics or did not achieve as many gold medals. For example, Scott Hamilton is known for his success in figure skating, Carl Lewis is renowned for track and field, and Trischa Zorn is a celebrated swimmer. Their accomplishments are prominent in their fields, but none match the achievement of Eric Heiden in the 1980 Winter Olympics.