Peter Mueller (skater)
Encyclopedia
Peter Alan Mueller (born 27 July 1954 in Madison, Wisconsin
, United States
) is a former speed skater
and currently a speed skating coach.
Peter Mueller was the first Olympic Champion on the 1000 m, when this distance was introduced at the 1976 Winter Olympics
in Innsbruck
. More international successes followed at the World Sprint Championships
, where he won bronze in 1976 and silver in 1977. His last appearance as a speed skater was at the 1980 Winter Olympics
in Lake Placid
, where he placed 5th in the 1000 m, 1.93 seconds behind the winning time of Eric Heiden
.
when she won two gold medals at the 1992 Winter Olympics
, Dan Jansen
when he won gold at the 1994 Winter Olympics
, Marianne Timmer
(two gold medals) and Jan Bos
(silver) at the 1998 Winter Olympics
, and Gianni Romme
(silver) at the 2002 Winter Olympics
. In addition, several speed skaters winning a total of five World Sprint Championships, one World Allround Championships
, and one European Allround Championships
titles were also coached by him.
Since the 2003/2004 season, Mueller was the coach of the Norwegian
team. He quickly added to his list of successes as a coach when, at the World Single Distance Championships
of 2005 in Inzell
, Even Wetten
(on the 1000 m) and Rune Stordal
(on the 1500 m) became World Champions.
Mueller was fired as coach of the Norwegian team in November 2009, due to allegations of sexual harassment of skater Maren Haugli
.
, two times World Sprint Champion and three times Olympic silver medalist, and had two children. Later, he married Dutch
speed skater Marianne Timmer
. He and Timmer are now divorced.
An autobiography, called Op dun ijs ("On thin ice"), was published in the Netherlands in 2006.
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) is a 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...
and currently a speed skating coach.
Peter Mueller was the first Olympic Champion on the 1000 m, when this distance was introduced at the 1976 Winter Olympics
1976 Winter Olympics
The 1976 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated February 4–15, 1976 in Innsbruck, Austria...
in Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
. More international successes followed at the World Sprint Championships
World Sprint Speed Skating Championships
The World Sprint Speed Skating Championships are annual speed skating championships. The championships are held over a two day period, with the skaters racing one 500 m and one 1,000 m each day...
, where he won bronze in 1976 and silver in 1977. His last appearance as a speed skater was at the 1980 Winter Olympics
1980 Winter Olympics
The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932...
in Lake Placid
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
, where he placed 5th in the 1000 m, 1.93 seconds behind the winning time of Eric Heiden
Eric Heiden
Eric Arthur Heiden, M.D. is an American former long track speed skater and road cyclist who won all the men's speed skating races, and thus an unprecedented five individual gold medals, and set four Olympic records and one world record at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York,...
.
Coaching
After ending his speed skating career, Mueller became a very successful skating coach. He was the coach of Bonnie BlairBonnie Blair
Bonnie Kathleen Blair is a retired American speedskater. She is one of the top skaters of her time, and one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history. Blair competed for the United States in four Olympics, and in her Olympic career won five gold medals and one bronze medal.-Career:Blair...
when she won two gold medals at the 1992 Winter Olympics
1992 Winter Olympics
The 1992 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 8 to 23 February 1992 in Albertville, France. They were the last Winter Olympics to be held the same year as the Summer Olympics, and the first where the Winter Paralympics...
, Dan Jansen
Dan Jansen
Daniel Erwin Jansen is a former speed skater, best known for winning a gold medal in his final Olympic race after suffering through years of heartbreak. He graduated from West Allis Central High School....
when he won gold at the 1994 Winter Olympics
1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat...
, Marianne Timmer
Marianne Timmer
Maria Aaltje Timmer is a Dutch speed skater specializing in the middle distances . At the 1998 Winter Olympics Timmer won a gold medal in both these events.- Personal life :...
(two gold medals) and Jan Bos
Jan Bos
Jan Bos is a Dutch speedskater and sprint cyclist.In 1998 he became world champion sprint and he won the silver medal that year on the 1000 meter sprint during the Winter Olympics in Nagano....
(silver) at the 1998 Winter Olympics
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...
, and Gianni Romme
Gianni Romme
Gianni Petrus Cornelis Romme is a Dutch marathon and a former long track speed skater. He is also a coach since the 2006-07 speed skating season....
(silver) at the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
. In addition, several speed skaters winning a total of five World Sprint Championships, one 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 one 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...
titles were also coached by him.
Since the 2003/2004 season, Mueller was the coach of the Norwegian
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...
team. He quickly added to his list of successes as a coach when, at 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...
of 2005 in Inzell
Inzell
Inzell is a municipality in the district of Traunstein in Bavaria, Germany. It is known for the Eisstadion Inzell, an outdoor artificial ice rink that has been used for many international speed skating championships....
, Even Wetten
Even Wetten
Even Gabrielsen Wetten is a Norwegian speed skater. He became World Champion on 1,000 metres in 2005 in Inzell.-References:**...
(on the 1000 m) and Rune Stordal
Rune Stordal
Rune Stordal is a Norwegian speed skater.He won the 1500 m at the 2005 World Single Distance Championships....
(on the 1500 m) became World Champions.
Mueller was fired as coach of the Norwegian team in November 2009, due to allegations of sexual harassment of skater Maren Haugli
Maren Haugli
Maren Haugli is a Norwegian long track speed skater who participates in international competitions.She represents the sports club Jevnaker IF and is the granddaughter of Sverre Ingolf Haugli and sister of Sverre Haugli.-Personal records:...
.
Private life
Mueller was married to American speed skater Leah PoulosLeah Poulos
Leah Jean Poulos is a former speed skater.Leah Poulos specialized in the sprint events and made her international debut at the World Sprint Championships in 1970, where she won a silver medal in the 500 meter event...
, two times World Sprint Champion and three times Olympic silver medalist, and had two children. Later, he married Dutch
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...
speed skater Marianne Timmer
Marianne Timmer
Maria Aaltje Timmer is a Dutch speed skater specializing in the middle distances . At the 1998 Winter Olympics Timmer won a gold medal in both these events.- Personal life :...
. He and Timmer are now divorced.
An autobiography, called Op dun ijs ("On thin ice"), was published in the Netherlands in 2006.