Ids Postma
Encyclopedia
Ids Hylke Postma is a Dutch
former speed skater
. He is an Olympic gold medalist and former world champion.
To some it would seem that Ids Postma made his debut in 1994, but the season before he already finished 2nd at the World Championships Speedskating for Juniors. In his first year as senior skater he became Dutch Allround
Champion, finished second after Johann Olav Koss
at the World Allround Championships
, and became #4 in the European Championships, but nevertheless did not qualify for the Dutch Olympic team. In 1997 Postma won both the European Allround Championships
and the World Allround Championships.
His greatest success came in 1998 when he became World Allround Champion again, setting also a world record in the point-sum combination, and won two Olympic
medals at the Olympic Games
in Nagano. He won the 1,000 meters event and placed second at his specialty, the 1,500 meters, just after Ådne Søndrål
from Norway
. Also in 1998 he was the first skater who skated an official world record on the 1,500 meters below 1:50.00, Postma did this in Berlin
. Erben Wennemars
did the same the summer before but that time was not ratified by the International Skating Union
. Postma's record did not last long, because a few hours later Kevin Overland
skated towards a new record in Calgary
.
Postma is also a three time World Champion in the World Single Distance Championships
. He won the 5,000 meters in 1996 and the 1,500 meters in 1999 and 2000.
In October 2004 Postma announced his retirement and nowadays he lives on his farm in Deersum. He married German
speed skater Anni Friesinger on 11 August 2009 in Salzburg. The couple will not live together on the farm until renovations are complete. In August 2011 she gave birth to a daughter. He previously had a relationship with Renske Vellinga
, until she died in a car crash in 1994.
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...
former speed skater
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...
. He is an Olympic gold medalist and former world champion.
To some it would seem that Ids Postma made his debut in 1994, but the season before he already finished 2nd at the World Championships Speedskating for Juniors. In his first year as senior skater he became Dutch Allround
KNSB Dutch Allround Championships
The national Dutch Allround speedskating championships are first held in 1901 for man and since 1955 for women-Men's Allround:Source: -Women's Allround:Source: -References:NotesBibliography...
Champion, finished second after Johann Olav Koss
Johann Olav Koss
Johann Olav Koss is a former speed skater from Norway, considered to be one of the best in history, and current assistant coach of Norway's speed skating team.-Biography:...
at the World Allround Championships
World Allround Speed Skating Championships
The World Allround Speed Skating Championships are a series of speed skating events held annually to determine the best allround speed skater of the world...
, and became #4 in the European Championships, but nevertheless did not qualify for the Dutch Olympic team. In 1997 Postma won both the European Allround Championships
European Speed Skating Championships
The European Speed Skating Championships are a series of speed skating events held annually to determine the best allround speed skater of Europe. The International Skating Union has organised the European Championships for Men since 1893 and the European Championships for Women since 1970. The...
and the World Allround Championships.
His greatest success came in 1998 when he became World Allround Champion again, setting also a world record in the point-sum combination, and won two Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
medals at the Olympic Games
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
in Nagano. He won the 1,000 meters event and placed second at his specialty, the 1,500 meters, just after Ådne Søndrål
Ådne Søndrål
Ådne Søndrål is a former Norwegian speed skater.Søndrål, representing Hol IL, was one of the best 1500 m skaters through most of the 1990s. He placed 2nd in the 1992 Winter Olympics and 4th in the 1994 Olympics. He finally won Olympic gold when he won 1500 m in the 1998 Winter Olympics...
from Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Also in 1998 he was the first skater who skated an official world record on the 1,500 meters below 1:50.00, Postma did this in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. Erben Wennemars
Erben Wennemars
Egbert Rolf Wennemars is a Dutch former speed skater. He specialized in the sprint and middle distances of 500, 1000 and 1500 meters.-Speed skating career:...
did the same the summer before but that time was not ratified by the International Skating Union
International Skating Union
The International Skating Union is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It was founded in Scheveningen, Netherlands in 1892, making it one of the oldest international...
. Postma's record did not last long, because a few hours later Kevin Overland
Kevin Overland
Kevin Overland is a Canadian Olympic bronze medallist in the 500 metres speed skating race from the 1998 Winter Olympics. He is the brother of Cindy Overland and Amanda Overland.-References:...
skated towards a new record in Calgary
Olympic Oval
The Olympic Oval in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is a covered speed skating oval built for the 1988 Winter Olympics. It is the official designated training center for Speed Skate Canada and the Canadian National Speed Skating team. It is located on the University of Calgary campus...
.
Postma is also a three time World Champion in the World Single Distance Championships
World Single Distance Championships
The World Single Distance Championships are a series of speed skating competitions organised by the International Skating Union.-History:Since the late 19th century, speed skating championships were always decided by racing multiple distances – four different distances for the allround...
. He won the 5,000 meters in 1996 and the 1,500 meters in 1999 and 2000.
In October 2004 Postma announced his retirement and nowadays he lives on his farm in Deersum. He married German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
speed skater Anni Friesinger on 11 August 2009 in Salzburg. The couple will not live together on the farm until renovations are complete. In August 2011 she gave birth to a daughter. He previously had a relationship with Renske Vellinga
Renske Vellinga
Renske Vellinga was an ice speed skater from the Netherlands, who won a bronze and a silver medal at the 1993 Dutch distance championships...
, until she died in a car crash in 1994.