Erben Wennemars

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Wennemars was the first skater who skated the 1500 m faster than 1:50.00. His 1:49.89 in the summer of 1997, however, was not regarded as an official world record.

During the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, where Wennemars was qualified for the 500, 1000 and 1500 m, he dislocated his shoulder when Grunde Njøs from Norway fell and collided with Wennemars during the second 500 m race. Wennemars was not able to participate in the other distances after that.

Wennemars achieved his first big success in 2003 during the World Single Distance Championships in Berlin, Germany, by winning the gold medal at the 1000 m and 1500 m. One year later he became world champion in sprint in Nagano. In 2005 he defended his world sprint title successfully in Salt Lake City, United States.

Wennemars qualified for the 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m and the team pursuit events at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy and won bronze medals on the 1000m and in the team pursuit. His teammates for the team pursuit were Sven Kramer, Carl Verheijen, Mark Tuitert and Rintje Ritsma.

In 2003, Wennemars was chosen as athlete of the year in the Netherlands, and in 2003, 2004 and 2005 as Dutch skater of the year. After failing to qualify for the 2010 Winter Olympics, he announced his farewell from competitive skating.^[2] On 11 January 2010, Wennemars officially retired as a speed-skating professional.

Records

Personal records

More information Event, Result ...

Personal records^[3]

Men's speed skating
Event	Result	Date	Location	Notes
500 m	34.68	22 January 2005	Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake City
1000 m	1:07.33	12 January 2003	Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake City
1500 m	1:42.32	9 November 2007	Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake City	World record until beaten by Denny Morrison on 14 March 2008.[4] Dutch record until beaten by Koen Verweij on 15 November 2013.[5]
3000 m	3:41.84	12 August 2005	Olympic Oval, Calgary
5000 m	6:28.42	13 August 2005	Olympic Oval, Calgary
10000 m	13:35.67	11 February 2007	Thialf, Heerenveen
Small comb.	146.365	12–13 August 2005	Olympic Oval, Calgary	Current world record.[6]
Team pursuit	3:37.80	11 March 2007	Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake City	World record (with Sven Kramer and Carl Verheijen) until beaten by Jan Blokhuijsen, Sven Kramer and Koen Verweij on 16 November 2013.[7]

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World records

More information Event, Result ...

World records^[1]

Men's speed skating
Event	Result	Date	Location	Notes
1500 m	1:42.32	9 November 2007	Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake City	World record until beaten by Denny Morrison on 14 March 2008.[4] Dutch record until beaten by Koen Verweij on 15 November 2013.[5]
Small comb.	153.583	15–16 August 1998	Olympic Oval, Calgary	World record until beaten by Steven Elm on 27–29 November 1998.[6]
Small comb.	149.188	14–15 August 1999	Olympic Oval, Calgary	World record until beaten by Jochem Uytdehaage on 15–17 March 2001.[6]
Small comb.	146.365	12–13 August 2005	Olympic Oval, Calgary	Current world record.[6]
Team pursuit	3:46.44	21 November 2004	Sportforum Hohenschönhausen, Berlin	World record (with Mark Tuitert and Carl Verheijen) until beaten by Arne Dankers, Steven Elm and Denny Morrison on 12 November 2005.[7]
Team pursuit	3:37.80	11 March 2007	Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake City	World record (with Sven Kramer and Carl Verheijen) until beaten by Jan Blokhuijsen, Sven Kramer and Koen Verweij on 16 November 2013.[7]

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Summarize Timeline Fact Check

source: ^{[8] [9] [10] [11]}

DNS = Did not start

DNF = Did not finish

DQ = Disqualified

NC = No classification

Source:^[12]

(b) = Division B

DNF = Did not finish

DQ = Disqualified

* = 100m (first 100 meters of the World Cup 500 meter)

– = Did not participate

Total number of medals: 198

Wennemars is married to TV-presenter Renate van der Zalm, with whom he has two sons: Joep and Niels.^[13]