Jan Smeekens
Encyclopedia
Jan Smeekens is a Dutch
speed skater
. He is specialised in riding the 500m.
Smeekens won his first international medal during the 2004 World Junior Single Distance Championships in Moscow
where he won the gold medal at the 500m. At the 2006 KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships
on 28 October 2005 he made his début among the senior skaters in his country, resulting in claiming a World Cup spot for races in Collalbo and Baselga di Pinè
. In the A-group of these World Cup meetings he finished in 6th and 7th position.
On 7 January 2006, later during the 2005-06 season he also made his début at the 2006 KNSB Dutch Sprint Championships. At these championships he managed to win the second race over 500m. In February 2006 Smeekens signed a professional contract with the TVM Speed skating team.
His first success in his new team was winning a silver medal on the 500m at the 2007 KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships
. He won the first race beating all the favourites, while finishing second behind Jan Bos
in the final race. Bos claimed and defended his title.
In 2006 Smeekens the current Dutch Junior record holder on the 500 m with a personal best of 35.16, which he achieved during the 2006 Speed skating finals in Calgary
.
At the 2010 Winter Olympics
in Vancouver
, Smeekens finished sixth in the 500 m race
.
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
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...
. He is specialised in riding the 500m.
Smeekens won his first international medal during the 2004 World Junior Single Distance Championships in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
where he won the gold medal at the 500m. At the 2006 KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships
2006 KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships
The 2006 KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships are the venue where the Dutch single distance champions in speed skating are crowned. Although the event took place from 27 December until 30 December 2005 this is the 2006 edition as it is part of the 2005-06 speed skating season. Venue is Thialf...
on 28 October 2005 he made his début among the senior skaters in his country, resulting in claiming a World Cup spot for races in Collalbo and Baselga di Pinè
Baselga di Pinè
Baselga di Pinè is a comune in Trentino in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 12 km northeast of Trento...
. In the A-group of these World Cup meetings he finished in 6th and 7th position.
On 7 January 2006, later during the 2005-06 season he also made his début at the 2006 KNSB Dutch Sprint Championships. At these championships he managed to win the second race over 500m. In February 2006 Smeekens signed a professional contract with the TVM Speed skating team.
His first success in his new team was winning a silver medal on the 500m at the 2007 KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships
2007 KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships
The 2007 KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships were the venue where the Dutch single distance champions in speed skating were crowned. Although the event took place from 3 November until 5 November 2006 this was the 2007 edition as it is part of the 2006-07 speed skating season...
. He won the first race beating all the favourites, while finishing second behind 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....
in the final race. Bos claimed and defended his title.
In 2006 Smeekens the current Dutch Junior record holder on the 500 m with a personal best of 35.16, which he achieved during the 2006 Speed skating finals 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...
.
At the 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...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Smeekens finished sixth in the 500 m race
Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 500 metres
The men's 500 metres speed skating competition of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics was held at Richmond Olympic Oval on 15th February 2010.-Track maintenance issues:...
.