Gerard Kemkers
Encyclopedia
Gerard Kemkers is a former speed skater
from the Netherlands
, who represented his native country at the 1988 Winter Olympics
in Calgary, Canada. There he won the bronze medal in the men's 5000 metres.
Kemkers retired from international competition in 1990, due to a problem with his leg. He later became a speed skating coach, who guided skaters like Carl Verheijen
, Jochem Uytdehaage
, Ireen Wüst
and Sven Kramer
to international successes with the professional TVM-squad.
During the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin (Italy) he coached Ireen Wüst
to two medals: 3000m gold, 1500m bronze and Sven Kramer
to a silver medal on the 5000m.
During the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver he successfully coached Sven Kramer
to the gold medal at the 5000m and Ireen Wüst
to the gold medal on the 1500m. During the 10 km race of Sven Kramer
, he made a mistake and guided Kramer to the wrong lane. Sven Kramer was disqualified for failing to change lanes. As a result, Lee Seung-Hoon
won gold with a new Olympic record, 12:58.55. Kramer later said, "At the end of the day, it is my responsibility. I am the skater on the ice, I have to do it".
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
from the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, who represented his native country at the 1988 Winter Olympics
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
in Calgary, Canada. There he won the bronze medal in the men's 5000 metres.
Kemkers retired from international competition in 1990, due to a problem with his leg. He later became a speed skating coach, who guided skaters like Carl Verheijen
Carl Verheijen
Carl Eduard Verheijen was a Dutch speedskater specializing in the longer distances 5,000-m and the 10,000-m. Verheijen is the son of skater Eddy Verheijen and has a relation with retired skater Andrea Nuyt in Leusden. They have a daughter...
, Jochem Uytdehaage
Jochem Uytdehaage
Jochem Simon Uytdehaage is a former Dutch long track speed skater and two-time Olympic champion. He retired in 2007 at the age of 30, following two consecutive seasons of poor results.-Biography:...
, Ireen Wüst
Ireen Wüst
Ireen Wüst is a Dutch long track allround speed skater. At the age of 19, on February 12, 2006, Wüst won the gold medal in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games 3000-meter event...
and Sven Kramer
Sven Kramer
Sven Kramer is a Dutch long track speed skater. He is the Olympic champion of the 5000 meter in Vancouver 2010, and four-time European and World Allround Champion. He is also three-time world champion and world record holder in the 5,000 m, 10,000 m, and the team pursuit...
to international successes with the professional TVM-squad.
During the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin (Italy) he coached Ireen Wüst
Ireen Wüst
Ireen Wüst is a Dutch long track allround speed skater. At the age of 19, on February 12, 2006, Wüst won the gold medal in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games 3000-meter event...
to two medals: 3000m gold, 1500m bronze and Sven Kramer
Sven Kramer
Sven Kramer is a Dutch long track speed skater. He is the Olympic champion of the 5000 meter in Vancouver 2010, and four-time European and World Allround Champion. He is also three-time world champion and world record holder in the 5,000 m, 10,000 m, and the team pursuit...
to a silver medal on the 5000m.
During the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver he successfully coached Sven Kramer
Sven Kramer
Sven Kramer is a Dutch long track speed skater. He is the Olympic champion of the 5000 meter in Vancouver 2010, and four-time European and World Allround Champion. He is also three-time world champion and world record holder in the 5,000 m, 10,000 m, and the team pursuit...
to the gold medal at the 5000m and Ireen Wüst
Ireen Wüst
Ireen Wüst is a Dutch long track allround speed skater. At the age of 19, on February 12, 2006, Wüst won the gold medal in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games 3000-meter event...
to the gold medal on the 1500m. During the 10 km race of Sven Kramer
Sven Kramer
Sven Kramer is a Dutch long track speed skater. He is the Olympic champion of the 5000 meter in Vancouver 2010, and four-time European and World Allround Champion. He is also three-time world champion and world record holder in the 5,000 m, 10,000 m, and the team pursuit...
, he made a mistake and guided Kramer to the wrong lane. Sven Kramer was disqualified for failing to change lanes. As a result, Lee Seung-Hoon
Lee Seung-Hoon
Lee Seung-Hoon is a South Korean speed skater who won a silver medal in the 5000 meters and a gold medal in the 10000 metres at the 2010 Winter Olympics, becoming the first Asian man to ever achieve these feats...
won gold with a new Olympic record, 12:58.55. Kramer later said, "At the end of the day, it is my responsibility. I am the skater on the ice, I have to do it".