Jan Ykema
Encyclopedia
Jan Jelte Ykema is a former ice speed skater
from the Netherlands
, who represented his native country at two consecutive Winter Olympics, starting in 1984
in Sarajevo
, Yugoslavia
. In 1988 (Calgary
) he won the silver medal in the men's 500 metres. A year later Ykema retired from international competition.
After his career has ended, Ykema became addicted to cocaine
. After he had stopped using the drugs, he started giving lessons at secondary schools about his addiction.
In 2008 it was announced he would return to competitive speed skating as assistant coach for the APPM team.
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 two consecutive Winter Olympics, starting in 1984
1984 Winter Olympics
The 1984 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIV Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from 8–19 February 1984 in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Other candidate cities were Sapporo, Japan; and Gothenburg, Sweden...
in Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. In 1988 (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...
) he won the silver medal in the men's 500 metres. A year later Ykema retired from international competition.
After his career has ended, Ykema became addicted to cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
. After he had stopped using the drugs, he started giving lessons at secondary schools about his addiction.
In 2008 it was announced he would return to competitive speed skating as assistant coach for the APPM team.