Hein Vergeer
Encyclopedia
Henricus Coenradus Nicolaas Vergeer (born 2 May 1961 in Haastrecht
, the Netherlands
) is a Dutch former speed skater
who became both European and World Allround Champion in both 1985 (in which year he also became National Sprint Champion) and 1986 (in which year he also became National Allround Champion).
Hein Vergeer was a dominant allround skater, but after having recovered from an injury, he was never able to reach that same level again. Because of this, he was unable to fulfil his wish of winning an Olympic medal – at the 1988 Winter Olympics
in Calgary
, Vergeer competed in the 500 m, the 1,000 m, and the 1,500 m, but his best result was a mere fifteenth place. He had also competed in those same three distances at the Winter Olympics
in Sarajevo
four years earlier, but did not do much better than with a tenth place as his best result. Unfortunately for Vergeer, his best years were in between those two Winter Olympics.
Perhaps curious is to notice that, despite his dominance, Vergeer never managed to skate any world records. This could label him as a "true" allround skater – very good at all distances, but never the very best in any single distance.
Vergeer lives in Haastrecht, a town where Leo Visser
, another former World Champion speed skating, used to live as well. Both skaters used to train at the skating club STV Lekstreek.
Back in the days of Vergeer's dominance, speed skating was not very lucrative, so Vergeer did what lots of other top-skaters in those days did as well – he used his fame as a stepping stone to a career in marketing and communication. Vergeer currently is an advisor of several ventures and he organises several events.
Both in 2006 and 2007, Vergeer participated in the Holiday on Ice
show called Fantasy.
Source: www.isu.org
Note that Vergeer's personal record on the 3,000 m was not a world record because Leo Visser
skated 3:59.27 that same day at the same tournament. Also note that when Vergeer set his personal record on the 10,000 m, Geir Karlstad
set a new world record of 14:12.14 that same day at the same tournament.
Vergeer has an Adelskalender score of 161.193 points. His highest ranking on the Adelskalender was a seventh place. The Adelskalender is an all-time allround speed skating ranking.
Haastrecht
Haastrecht is a town on the Hollandse IJssel river in the Dutch province of South Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Vlist, and lies about 5 km east of Gouda.In 2001, the town of Haastrecht had 3302 inhabitants...
, 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...
) is a Dutch 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...
who became both European and World Allround Champion in both 1985 (in which year he also became National Sprint Champion) and 1986 (in which year he also became National Allround Champion).
Hein Vergeer was a dominant allround skater, but after having recovered from an injury, he was never able to reach that same level again. Because of this, he was unable to fulfil his wish of winning an Olympic medal – at the 1988 Winter Olympics
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
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...
, Vergeer competed in the 500 m, the 1,000 m, and the 1,500 m, but his best result was a mere fifteenth place. He had also competed in those same three distances at the Winter Olympics
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....
four years earlier, but did not do much better than with a tenth place as his best result. Unfortunately for Vergeer, his best years were in between those two Winter Olympics.
Perhaps curious is to notice that, despite his dominance, Vergeer never managed to skate any world records. This could label him as a "true" allround skater – very good at all distances, but never the very best in any single distance.
Vergeer lives in Haastrecht, a town where Leo Visser
Leo Visser
Leendert Visser is s a former Dutch Speed skater, who in 1989 won the World Allround championship, the same year in which Visser also became European champion....
, another former World Champion speed skating, used to live as well. Both skaters used to train at the skating club STV Lekstreek.
Back in the days of Vergeer's dominance, speed skating was not very lucrative, so Vergeer did what lots of other top-skaters in those days did as well – he used his fame as a stepping stone to a career in marketing and communication. Vergeer currently is an advisor of several ventures and he organises several events.
Both in 2006 and 2007, Vergeer participated in the Holiday on Ice
Holiday on Ice
Holiday on Ice is an ice show currently produced by Joop van den Ende's Stage Entertainment Group with its headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands...
show called Fantasy.
Medals
An overview of medals won by Vergeer at important championships he participated in, listing the years in which he won each:| Championships | Gold medal | Silver medal | Bronze medal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympics Speed skating at the Winter Olympics Speed skating has been featured as a sport in the Winter Olympics since the first winter games in 1924. Women's events were added to the Olympic program for the first time in 1960.-History:... |
– | – | – |
| World Allround 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... |
1985 1986 |
– | – |
| World Sprint 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... |
– | – | – |
| World Cup Speed Skating World Cup The Speed Skating World Cup is a series of international speed skating competitions, organised yearly by the International Skating Union since the winter of 1985–86. Every year during the winter, a number of competitions on a number of different distances are held... |
– | – | 1987 (1,500 m) |
| European Allround 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... |
1985 1986 |
– | 1987 |
| Dutch Allround 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... |
1986 1987 |
1985 | – |
| Dutch Sprint | 1984 1985 |
1983 1986 |
1988 |
| Dutch Single Distance | 1987 (5,000 m) | 1987 (1,500 m) 1988 (1,000 m) |
1988 (1,500 m) |
Personal records
To put these personal records in perspective, the last column (Notes) lists the official world records on the dates that Vergeer skated his personal records.Source: www.isu.org
Note that Vergeer's personal record on the 3,000 m was not a world record because Leo Visser
Leo Visser
Leendert Visser is s a former Dutch Speed skater, who in 1989 won the World Allround championship, the same year in which Visser also became European champion....
skated 3:59.27 that same day at the same tournament. Also note that when Vergeer set his personal record on the 10,000 m, Geir Karlstad
Geir Karlstad
Geir Karlstad is a former speed skater.-Short biography:Although best at the longest distances , Geir Karlstad became Junior World Allround Champion in 1982 and, as a senior, won bronze in both the World and European Allround Championships in 1989...
set a new world record of 14:12.14 that same day at the same tournament.
Vergeer has an Adelskalender score of 161.193 points. His highest ranking on the Adelskalender was a seventh place. The Adelskalender is an all-time allround speed skating ranking.