Ireen Wüst
Encyclopedia
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
. She is the youngest Dutch Olympic champion in Winter Games history.
, USA. The next season she qualified for the 2004-05 Speed Skating World Cup during the 2005 KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships with a 5th place in the 1000 m and 4th place in the 1500 m. With a 3rd place at the 2005 KNSB Dutch Allround Championships
she qualified for her first international senior tournament, the 2005 European Championships in Heerenveen. There she came 4th and secured herself a sport in the Dutch team for the 2005 World Allround Championships in Moscow, Russia, where she finished in 5th place. She then became World Junior Champion in Seinäjoki
, Finland.
. At the 2006 KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships
, which also served as the Olympic Trials, Wüst won the 1000 m, 1500 m and 3000 m, which gave her a spot in the Dutch Olympic Team for the 2006 Winter Olympics
in Turin
. Before the Olympics she started in the 2006 European Championships in Hamar
where she won the bronze medal behind Claudia Pechstein
of Germany and teammate Renate Groenewold
.
where Wüst beat Groenewold and Cindy Klassen
of Canada and became the youngest olympic champion from the Netherlands in the history of the Winter Olympics. She missed out the podium in the 1000 m
finishing 4th. At her last event the 1500 m
she won a bronze medal behind Cindy Klassen and Kristina Groves
of Canada. At her last event of the season the 2006 World Allround Championships
, Wüst ended 4th after she had been ill a few days before the tournament.
After the end of the season Ireen Wüst was elected as the best Dutch Sportswoman of the Year 2006
. She also became the female skater of the year. The male skater of the year was Sven Kramer
.
. She also won the 2007 Dutch Allround Championships
.At the 2007 European Championships Wüst led the championships after 3 of 4 distances but was beaten by Martina Sáblíková
. The next weekend she competed in the 2007 World Sprint Speed Skating Championships
in Hamar
, receiving the silver medal again. At the European Championships when she became World Allround Champion during the 2007 World Allround Championships
for the homecrowd in Heerenveen
. She won the 2006-07 Speed Skating World Cup in the 1500 m after winning two of the six races, as well as the 1000 m during the World Cup Final in Calgary
. At the 2007 World Distance Championships
she won gold medals in the 1000 m, breaking the national record, and the 1500 m. With Renate Groenewold and Paulien van Deutekom
she won silver in the team pursuit behind Canada.
. Wüst ended 2nd behind van Deutekom during the World Allround Championships in Berlin. In Nagano during the 2008 World Distance Championships
she won the gold medal in the team pursuit alongside Groenewold and Van Deutekom. Wüst won only one world race this season, the 1500 m in Hamar.
.
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...
long track allround 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...
.
At the age of 19, on February 12, 2006, Wüst won the gold medal in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games 3000-meter event
Speed skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics - Women's 3000 metres
The Women's 3000m speed skating competition at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy was held on 12 February, the second day of competition at the Olympics.-Records:...
. She is the youngest Dutch Olympic champion in Winter Games history.
Skating career
Wüst debuted at the 2004 KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships in November 2003 with 9th places in 500 m and 1500 m. At the end of the season she won the silver medal in the world junior championships in Roseville, MinnesotaRoseville, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,690 people, 14,598 households, and 8,598 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,543.9 people per square mile . There were 14,917 housing units at an average density of 1,126.4 per square mile...
, USA. The next season she qualified for the 2004-05 Speed Skating World Cup during the 2005 KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships with a 5th place in the 1000 m and 4th place in the 1500 m. With a 3rd place at the 2005 KNSB Dutch Allround Championships
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...
she qualified for her first international senior tournament, the 2005 European Championships in Heerenveen. There she came 4th and secured herself a sport in the Dutch team for the 2005 World Allround Championships in Moscow, Russia, where she finished in 5th place. She then became World Junior Champion in Seinäjoki
Seinäjoki
Seinäjoki is a city located in Southern Ostrobothnia, Finland. Seinäjoki originated around the Östermyra bruk iron and gunpowder factories founded in 1798. Seinäjoki became a municipality in 1868, market town in 1931 and town in 1960...
, Finland.
Season 2005-2006
Before the start of the season Wüst signed a deal with TVM and started training under the guidance of Gerard KemkersGerard Kemkers
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....
. At the 2006 KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships
2006 KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships
The 2006 KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships are the venue where the Dutch single distance champions in speed skating are crowned. Although the event took place from 27 December until 30 December 2005 this is the 2006 edition as it is part of the 2005-06 speed skating season. Venue is Thialf...
, which also served as the Olympic Trials, Wüst won the 1000 m, 1500 m and 3000 m, which gave her a spot in the Dutch Olympic Team for the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
. Before the Olympics she started in the 2006 European Championships in Hamar
Hamar
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
where she won the bronze medal behind Claudia Pechstein
Claudia Pechstein
Claudia Pechstein is a German speed skater. With a total of five Olympic gold medals, two silver, and two bronze medals, she is the most successful German Winter Olympian of all time...
of Germany and teammate Renate Groenewold
Renate Groenewold
Renate Groenewold is a Dutch long track speed skater and road bicycle racer.Groenewold has won several Dutch Championships....
.
2006 Olympic Games in Turin
At the Olympics her first distance was the 3000 mSpeed skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics - Women's 3000 metres
The Women's 3000m speed skating competition at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy was held on 12 February, the second day of competition at the Olympics.-Records:...
where Wüst beat Groenewold and Cindy Klassen
Cindy Klassen
Cindy Klassen, OM is a Canadian long track speed skater. Klassen is a six-time medalist at the Winter Olympics. She is tied with Clara Hughes for Canada's all-time most decorated Olympian with 6 medals each...
of Canada and became the youngest olympic champion from the Netherlands in the history of the Winter Olympics. She missed out the podium in the 1000 m
Speed skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics - Women's 1000 metres
The Women's 1000 m speed skating competition for the 2006 Winter Olympics was held in Turin, Italy.-Records:Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows....
finishing 4th. At her last event the 1500 m
Speed skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics - Women's 1500 metres
The Women's 1500 m speed skating competition for the 2006 Winter Olympics was held in Turin, Italy.-Records:Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows....
she won a bronze medal behind Cindy Klassen and Kristina Groves
Kristina Groves
Kristina Groves is a Canadian speedskater. She is Canada’s most decorated skater in the World Single Distances Championships with 13 career medals in this event. She won four Olympic medals: She won two silver medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, in the 1,500 meters and team pursuit....
of Canada. At her last event of the season the 2006 World Allround Championships
2006 World Allround Speed Skating Championships
The 2006 World Allround Speed Skating Championships were held in the indoor arena in Calgary on 18 and 19 March 2006:The Canadian Cindy Klassen and the American Shani Davis became Worldchampion.-500 meter:...
, Wüst ended 4th after she had been ill a few days before the tournament.
After the end of the season Ireen Wüst was elected as the best Dutch Sportswoman of the Year 2006
Dutch Sportsman of the year
The Dutch Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year are chosen annually by Dutch athletes from a shortlist compiled by sports journalists. The elections are organized by the Dutch Olympic Committee.- Sporter of the Year :...
. She also became the female skater of the year. The male skater of the year was 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...
.
Season 2006-2007
Wüst started the season with two titles and one second place at the 2007 Dutch Distance Championships2007 KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships
The 2007 KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships were the venue where the Dutch single distance champions in speed skating were crowned. Although the event took place from 3 November until 5 November 2006 this was the 2007 edition as it is part of the 2006-07 speed skating season...
. She also won the 2007 Dutch Allround Championships
2007 KNSB Dutch Allround Championships
The 2007 KNSB Dutch Allround Championships in speed skating were held in the Thialf Stadium in Heerenveen, Netherlands on 23 and 24 December 2006. Although the event took place in December 2006 this was the 2007 edition as it is part of the 2006-07 speed skating season.Sven Kramer won the men's...
.At the 2007 European Championships Wüst led the championships after 3 of 4 distances but was beaten by Martina Sáblíková
Martina Sáblíková
Martina Sáblíková is a Czech speedskater, specializing in long distance races. She is an Olympic gold medal winner and a multiple World champion. She is the elder sister of fellow speedskater Milan Sáblík.-Career:As a junior, Sáblíková already achieved some notable results during international...
. The next weekend she competed in the 2007 World Sprint Speed Skating Championships
2007 World Sprint Speed Skating Championships
The 2007 World Sprint Speed Skating Championships were held in Vikingskipet, Hamar on 20 January and 21 January 2007. They were the 36th World Championships, and it was the third time the Championships were held in Hamar...
in Hamar
Hamar
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
, receiving the silver medal again. At the European Championships when she became World Allround Champion during the 2007 World Allround Championships
2007 World Allround Speed Skating Championships
The 2007 World Allround Speed Skating Championships were held in the indoor arena Thialf in Heerenveen, Netherlands on 9 February, 10 February and 11 February 2007. The Championships were three-day allround events, with the skaters completing four distances before the final championship standings...
for the homecrowd in Heerenveen
Heerenveen
Heerenveen is a town in the Heerenveen municipality of the province of Friesland , in the north of the Netherlands.- History :The town was established in 1551 by three lords as a location for the purpose of digging peat which was used for fuel, hence the name...
. She won the 2006-07 Speed Skating World Cup in the 1500 m after winning two of the six races, as well as the 1000 m during the World Cup Final in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
. At the 2007 World Distance Championships
2007 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships
The 2007 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships were held between 8 March and 11 March 2007 in the Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake City. Twelve events were held, and world records were broken in five events.-Medal table:-Men's events:...
she won gold medals in the 1000 m, breaking the national record, and the 1500 m. With Renate Groenewold and Paulien van Deutekom
Paulien van Deutekom
Paulien van Deutekom is a Dutch speed skater who is specialised in the middle long distances, over 1000 and 1500 metres....
she won silver in the team pursuit behind Canada.
Season 2007-2008
After a difficult start to the season Ireen Wüst won the European title all round in January 2008. Her main competitor this year was Paulien van DeutekomPaulien van Deutekom
Paulien van Deutekom is a Dutch speed skater who is specialised in the middle long distances, over 1000 and 1500 metres....
. Wüst ended 2nd behind van Deutekom during the World Allround Championships in Berlin. In Nagano during the 2008 World Distance Championships
2008 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships
The 2008 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships were held between 6 March and 9 March 2008 in the M-Wave, Nagano, Nagano.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medals table:-References:*...
she won the gold medal in the team pursuit alongside Groenewold and Van Deutekom. Wüst won only one world race this season, the 1500 m in Hamar.
2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver
At the Olympics she won a gold medal at the 1500 mSpeed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Women's 1500 metres
The women's 1500 metres speed skating competition of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver was held at the Richmond Olympic Oval on .-Records:Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows....
.