Anni Friesinger
Encyclopedia
Anna ("Anni") Christine Friesinger-Postma (born 11 January 1977 in Bad Reichenhall
) is a German
speed skater
. Her father Georg Friesinger, of Germany, and mother Janina ("Jana") Korowicka
, of Poland, were both skaters; Jana was on the Polish team at the 1976 Winter Olympics
. Anni's brother Jan is a speed skater, too. Her sister Agnes is a former speed skater.
On 11 August 2009 Friesinger married former Dutch
skater Ids Postma
, her long-term boyfriend, at Schloss Mirabell. The celebration took place at Schloss Aigen
. Friesinger currently lives in Salzburg
, Austria, and is planning to move to the Netherlands to live with Postma on his farm. In August 2011 she gave birth to a daughter.
at the 1500 m in the 2002 Winter Olympics
and the team pursuit in the 2006
and 2010 Winter Olympics
as well as bronze
at the 3000 m in the 1998 Winter Olympics
and the 1000 m in the 2006 Winter Olympics
. She managed to qualify for the German speed skating team in five events at the 2006 Winter Olympics: the team pursuit and the individual races at 1000 m, 1500 m, 3000 m, and 5000 meters. However, she failed to win gold in any individual events. In the team pursuit semifinal against the United States at the 2010 Olympics, she fell behind her team members and ended up sliding across the finish line on her belly, but Germany still succeeded in advancing to the final.
As well as being a five-time European Allround Champion
and three time, World Allround Champion
, Anni Friesinger has won numerous titles in the World Single Distance Championships
. Although she originally specialized in the longer distances, she also won the World Sprint Championships
in 2007. In this, Friesinger became the fifth skater in history to be a World Champion in both Allround and Sprint disciplines (along with Sylvia Burka
, CAN
(1976 and 1977); Eric Heiden
, U.S. (1977 and 1977); Natalya Petrusyova, URS
(1980 and 1982); and Karin Kania-Enke
, GDR
(1980 and 1982)).
. The Olympic record, however—1:54.02—still belongs to Friesinger, and was set 20 February 2002 during her winning run at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City
.
. Anni is also known for her particularly powerful thigh
s, as befits a champion speed skater. She is a physically attractive woman, and is somewhat of a sex symbol
. Hence, she has acquired the humorous nickname of "Super Sexy Anni".
Bad Reichenhall
Bad Reichenhall is a spa town, and administrative center of the Berchtesgadener Land district in Upper Bavaria, Germany. It is located near Salzburg in a basin encircled by the Chiemgauer Alps ....
) is a 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
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...
. Her father Georg Friesinger, of Germany, and mother Janina ("Jana") Korowicka
Janina Korowicka
Janina Urszula Korowicka is a former ice speed skater from Poland, who represented her native country at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. She is the mother of the German champion speed skater Anni Friesinger....
, of Poland, were both skaters; Jana was on the Polish team 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...
. Anni's brother Jan is a speed skater, too. Her sister Agnes is a former speed skater.
On 11 August 2009 Friesinger married former 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...
skater Ids Postma
Ids Postma
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...
, her long-term boyfriend, at Schloss Mirabell. The celebration took place at Schloss Aigen
Schloss Aigen
Schloss Aigen is a castle located in Aigen, a quarter of Salzburg, Salzburgerland, Austria. The structure also includes a church and a park.-History:The castle was built in 1402. The park was an English style park made in 1780....
. Friesinger currently lives in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, Austria, and is planning to move to the Netherlands to live with Postma on his farm. In August 2011 she gave birth to a daughter.
Championships
Anni Friesinger has won five Olympic medals; goldGold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
at the 1500 m in 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...
and the team pursuit in the 2006
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...
and 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
as well as bronze
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
at the 3000 m in 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 the 1000 m in 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...
. She managed to qualify for the German speed skating team in five events at the 2006 Winter Olympics: the team pursuit and the individual races at 1000 m, 1500 m, 3000 m, and 5000 meters. However, she failed to win gold in any individual events. In the team pursuit semifinal against the United States at the 2010 Olympics, she fell behind her team members and ended up sliding across the finish line on her belly, but Germany still succeeded in advancing to the final.
As well as being a five-time European Allround Champion
European Speed Skating Championships for Women
The International Skating Union has organised the European Speed Skating Championships for Women since 1970, but they were discontinued after the 1974 tournament because of lack of interest...
and three time, World Allround Champion
World Allround Speed Skating Championships for Women
The International Skating Union has organised the World Allround Speed Skating Championships for Women since 1936. Unofficial Championships were held in the years 1933-1935.-Distances used:...
, Anni Friesinger has won numerous titles 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...
. Although she originally specialized in the longer distances, she also won the World Sprint Championships
World Sprint Speed Skating Championships for Women
The International Skating Union has organised the World Sprint Speed Skating Championships for Women since 1970. The first two years , they were called the ISU Sprint Championships.-Medal winners:-All-time medal count:- References :*...
in 2007. In this, Friesinger became the fifth skater in history to be a World Champion in both Allround and Sprint disciplines (along with Sylvia Burka
Sylvia Burka
Sylvia Burka is a former ice speed skater from Canada of Latvian descent, who represented her native country at three consecutive Winter Olympics, starting in 1972 in Sapporo, Japan....
, CAN
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(1976 and 1977); 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,...
, U.S. (1977 and 1977); Natalya Petrusyova, URS
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
(1980 and 1982); and Karin Kania-Enke
Karin Enke
Karin Enke , also known as Karin Busch, Karin Kania, and Karin Enke-Richter, is a former speed skater, one of the most dominant ones of the 1980s.-Short biography:...
, GDR
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
(1980 and 1982)).
Records
Friesinger has set the world record at the 1500 m distance three times during her career, but the record has since been superseded by Canadian competitor Cindy KlassenCindy 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...
. The Olympic record, however—1:54.02—still belongs to Friesinger, and was set 20 February 2002 during her winning run at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City
Utah Olympic Oval
The Utah Olympic Oval, an indoor speed skating oval built for the 2002 Winter Olympics, is located southwest of Salt Lake City, in Kearns, Utah. The Oval hosted the long track speed skating events for the 2002 games. Inside the facility the 400-meter skating track surrounds two international sized...
.
| Distance | | Time (min:sec.dec) | | Event | | Place | | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 m | 38.09 | 2nd World Cup meet 2005–06 | Salt Lake City-Kearns Utah Olympic Oval The Utah Olympic Oval, an indoor speed skating oval built for the 2002 Winter Olympics, is located southwest of Salt Lake City, in Kearns, Utah. The Oval hosted the long track speed skating events for the 2002 games. Inside the facility the 400-meter skating track surrounds two international sized... |
18 Nov 2005 |
| 1,000 m | 1:13.49 | 2nd World Cup meet 2007–08 | 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... |
18 Nov 2007 |
| 1,500 m | 1:53.19 | 2nd World Cup meet 2005–06 | Salt Lake City-Kearns Utah Olympic Oval The Utah Olympic Oval, an indoor speed skating oval built for the 2002 Winter Olympics, is located southwest of Salt Lake City, in Kearns, Utah. The Oval hosted the long track speed skating events for the 2002 games. Inside the facility the 400-meter skating track surrounds two international sized... |
20 Nov 2005 |
| 3,000 m | 3:58.52 | 1st World Cup meet 2005–06 | 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... |
12 Nov 2005 |
| 5,000 m | 6:58.39 | 2002 Winter Olympics Speed skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics Speed skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics, was held over fourteen days, from 9 February to 23 February. Ten events were contested at the Utah Olympic Oval.-Medal table:-Men's events:-Women's events:-Records:... |
Salt Lake City-Kearns Utah Olympic Oval The Utah Olympic Oval, an indoor speed skating oval built for the 2002 Winter Olympics, is located southwest of Salt Lake City, in Kearns, Utah. The Oval hosted the long track speed skating events for the 2002 games. Inside the facility the 400-meter skating track surrounds two international sized... |
23 Feb 2002 |
Non-sport activities
Anni Friesinger has done some modeling work as a sideline, and she has appeared as a swimsuit model in several publications and in less than that in the wide-circulation German magazine SternStern (magazine)
Stern is a weekly news magazine published in Germany. It was founded in 1948 by Henri Nannen, and is currently published by Gruner + Jahr, a subsidiary of Bertelsmann. In the first quarter of 2006, its print run was 1.019 million copies and it reached 7.84 million readers according to...
. Anni is also known for her particularly powerful thigh
Thigh
In humans the thigh is the area between the pelvis and the knee. Anatomically, it is part of the lower limb.The single bone in the thigh is called the femur...
s, as befits a champion speed skater. She is a physically attractive woman, and is somewhat of a sex symbol
Sex symbol
A sex symbol is a celebrity of either gender, typically an actor, musician, supermodel, teen idol, or sports star, noted for their sex appeal. The term was first used in the mid 1950s in relation to the popularity of certain Hollywood stars, especially Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte...
. Hence, she has acquired the humorous nickname of "Super Sexy Anni".
Autobiography
- Mein Leben, mein Sport, meine besten Fitness-Tipps ("My Life, My Sport, My Best Fitness Tips"). March 2004, Goldmann. ISBN 3-442-39059-1
External links
- Anni Friesinger's official website and
- Anni Friesinger biography and result listings – At SkateResults.com
- Anni Friesinger Fan Site – At SkateLog.com, edited by Kathie Fry
- Photos of Anni Friesinger – At Lars Hagen's DESG Photo website