If you are seeing bleary eyed co-workers lately, we have the Olympics to thank for that. If you are like me, it’s hard to peel yourself away from the nightly coverage, especially with figure skating getting into full swing. So what does ice skating and provincial England have in common? HD Sports, an iconic, international brand located in Sheffield, England, has been helping the Winter Olympic’s finest figure-skaters shine for over 50 years! Sheffield, England has a long history in the metal world, dating back to the 1600s with it’s production of knives and then in 1740s with the invention of the Sheffield plate, a form of silver plating. HD Sports dates back more than 300 years to when it first made skating blades for King William III in 1696 and has been making specialty blades ever since. At the last Winter Olympics, every skater who finished on the podium wore blades created by HD Sports and the company is hoping for the same this year. From the steel they use to the special technique in crafting the blades, don’t look for the company to reveal their secrets anytime soon. For a peek into Sheffield’s long history in the steel making business, check out the story on two archaeological sites that have been unearthed.