Joey Cheek
An Olympic champion who transformed his gold medal moment into a global campaign for children in war-torn regions.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American speed skater·Birthday: June 22·Generation X
Biography
Joey Cheek's story is one of speed with a purpose. Hailing from North Carolina, he rose through the ranks of inline and ice speed skating, known for his explosive power in the 500m and 1000m distances. His athletic peak was crystalline: at the 2006 Turin Olympics, he won gold in the 500m and silver in the 1000m. On the podium, Cheek made a decision that would define his legacy far beyond the oval. He announced he was donating his US Olympic Committee prize money—$40,000—to Right to Play, specifically to help children in refugee camps in Chad. This spontaneous act of generosity sparked a wave of donations, raising over $1 million. Cheek leveraged his platform with a diplomat's skill, later co-founding the Team Darfur coalition to advocate for athletes and human rights. His career shifted from athlete to activist and entrepreneur, proving that the courage to speak out can be as powerful as the speed to win.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Joey was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Joey Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Joey's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the gold medal in the 500m and the silver medal in the 1000m at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.
- Donated his $40,000 USOC Olympic bonus to charity Right to Play, inspiring over $1 million in subsequent donations.
- Co-founded and served as President of Team Darfur, an athlete-led coalition advocating for human rights in Sudan.
- Served as an athlete representative on the United States Olympic Committee's Board of Directors.
Did You Know?
He was a champion inline skater before switching to ice speed skating full-time at age 16.
He was awarded the 2006 USOC Sportsman of the Year award for his athletic performance and humanitarian actions.
He deferred his acceptance to Princeton University to train for the 2002 Olympics.
He once worked as a volunteer for the UN World Food Programme in Rwanda.
“I've been given a lot, and I have a unique opportunity to give something back.”
