Olympian Chad Hedrick Shares Victory With Family

US speed skater Chad Hedrick was cheered on to a bronze medal finish yesterday by his two biggest fans: His wife Lynsey Adams and their adorable daughter Hadley, 11 months.

The 33-year-old Olympian says it was a thrill to have his family in amongst the throngs of fans at the Richmond Olympic Oval in British Columbia, Canada.

"It was great to have my family here with me," he tells US. "I could look up into the stands and see my wife and daughter watching me, and it was amazing."

In an exclusive interview with Celebrity Baby Scoop last year, Chad revealed that his baby girl was a "big motivator" as he prepared for the Olympics, saying, "I gotta tell you… I have no intention of losing ever, but certainly not when my baby girl is watching! If I’m going to miss one second of her life, and I’m missing plenty of them, then you can be sure I’m going to use those seconds to be as prepared to make them count as I can. She’s a big motivator in my skating right now."

The adoring dad is proud of more than just his new medal, which he'll receive at tonight's victory ceremony: "In just one week of being here, [Hadley] has taken her first steps in Pampers Village... and has learned to say Daddy," he boasts. "Hadley is learning so much."