Ard Schenk

Last updated
Ard Schenk
Ard Schenk 2006.jpg
Ard Schenk during World Cup competitions in the Thialf in Heerenveen, Netherlands in March 2006
Personal information
Full nameAdrianus Schenk
NationalityDutch
Born (1944-09-16) 16 September 1944 (age 79)
Anna Paulowna, Netherlands
Height1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight90 kg (198 lb)
Sport
Country Netherlands
Sport Speed skating
Turned pro1973
Retired1974
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)500 m: 39.8 (1971)
1000 m: 1:20.6 (1968)
1500 m: 2:05.3 (1966)
3000 m: 4:08.3 (1972)
5000 m: 7:09.8 (1972)
10 000 m: 14:55.9 (1971)
Medal record
Men's speed skating
Representing the Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
Olympic Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1972 Sapporo 1500 m
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1972 Sapporo 5000 m
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1972 Sapporo 10000 m
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1968 Grenoble 1500 m
World Allround Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1970 Oslo Allround
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1971 GothenburgAllround
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1972 OsloAllround
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg1966 GothenburgAllround
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg1967 OsloAllround
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg1965 OsloAllround
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg1968 GothenburgAllround
World Sprint Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg1971 Inzell Sprint
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg1972 EskilstunaSprint
European Allround Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1966 DeventerAllround
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1970 InnsbruckAllround
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1972 DavosAllround
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg1971 HeerenveenAllround

Adrianus "Ard" Schenk (born 16 September 1944) is a former speed skater from the Netherlands, who is considered to be one of the best in history. His first Olympic success came in 1968, when he won a silver medal at the 1968 Winter Olympics. Between 1970 and 1972 Winter Olympics, Schenk won three consecutive World Allround Speed Skating Championships. He won three gold medals at the 1972 Winter Olympics, becoming, along with Galina Kulakova of Soviet Union, the most successful athlete there.

Contents

Biography

Schenk (1965) Schenk1965NKDeventer.jpg
Schenk (1965)

Schenk competed in international meets from 1964 on, winning his first medal at the 1965 world championships and his first gold medal at the 1966 European championships. In the late 60s, Schenk was usually bested by his compatriot Kees Verkerk, but in the early 1970s he dominated international speed skating. The winning duo of Ard & Keesie were responsible for a lasting popularity of speed skating in the Netherlands.

Schenk's career peaked in 1972. He won three gold medals during the Olympic Games in Sapporo (a fall on the 500 m precluded gold in all 4 distances). Had the 1000 meters already been an Olympic distance, Schenk would have been the favorite for gold, as he had won five of the six 1000 meter races at World Sprint Championship he participated in. The same year, he also won the European Allround and the World Allround Championships. He became World Allround Champion by winning all 4 distances, a feat that nobody had achieved since Ivar Ballangrud 40 years earlier, and which only Eric Heiden has repeated since (in 1979). Finally, he won bronze that year at the World Sprint Championships.

The next season (1973), he turned professional with a number of other prominent speed skaters, [1] thereby foregoing the opportunity of winning more championships. The professional circuit lasted two seasons and Schenk retired from speed skating at the relatively young age of 30.

Records

World records

Schenk was the first to skate the 10,000 meters within 15 minutes, and the first skater to finish the 1500 meters in less than 2 minutes. Over the course of his career he broke a total of 18 (senior) world records, a feat no skater before or after him has bettered. Among men, the sprint specialist Jeremy Wotherspoon came closest with his 16th world record in 2007, [2] while among women long-distance specialist Gunda Niemann equalled Schenk's mark in 2001. [3] By March 1971, Schenk held 6 of the 7 official world records at the same time, missing only the 500 m. [4] His 1000 m record was broken in March 1972 by Erhard Keller, but the other five stood until 1975 to 1978, when world records started to be skated at the high-altitude rink of Medeo.

DisciplineTimeDateLocation
1500 m 2:06.226 January 1966 Davos
3000 m 4:26.229 January 1966 Inzell
1500 m2:05.330 January 1966Inzell
3000 m4:18.425 February 1967Inzell
1000 m 1:20.628 February 1967Inzell
1000 m1:20.65 February 1968Davos
3000 m4:12.615 January 1971Davos
1500 m1:58.716 January 1971Davos
Big combination 171.31731 January 1971 Oslo
10000 m 15:01.614 February 1971 Gothenburg
Big combination171.13014 February 1971Gothenburg
1000 m1:18.820 February 1971Inzell
5000 m 7:12.013 March 1971Inzell
10000 m14:55.914 March 1971Inzell
Big combination168.24814 March 1971Inzell
3000 m4:08.32 March 1972Inzell
5000 m7:09.84 March 1972Inzell
Big combination167.4205 March 1972Inzell

Source: SpeedSkatingStats.com [5]

Personal records

Personal records [6]
Men's speed skating
EventResultDateLocationNotes
500 meter 38.915 January 1971 Davos
1000 meter 1:18.820 February 1971 Inzell
1500 meter 1:58.716 January 1971 Davos
3000 meter 4:08.32 March 1972 Inzell
5000 meter 7:09.84 March 1972 Inzell
10000 meter 14:55.914 March 1971 Inzell
Big combination 167.4205 March 1972 Inzell

Schenk has an Adelskalender score of 166.241 points. He was number one on the Adelskalender from 13 January 1966 until 27 February 1967 and again from 13 February 1971 until 19 March 1976 for a total of 6 years and 58 days. The Adelskalender is an all-time allround speed skating ranking. [7]

Tournament overview


Season
Dutch
Championships
Allround
ISU
European
Championships
Allround
Olympic
Games
ISU*
World
Championships
Allround
ISU
World
Championships
Sprint
ISSL*
European
Championships
Allround
ISSL
World
Championships
Allround

1963–1964
DEVENTER

Silver medal icon.svg 500m
5th 5000m
Silver medal icon.svg 1500m
9th 10000m
Silver medal icon.svg overall
INNSBRUCK
13th 1500m
HELSINKI

9th 500m
15th 5000m
11th 1500m
13th 10000m
7th overall

1964–1965
AMSTERDAM

Gold medal icon.svg 500m
Silver medal icon.svg 5000m
Silver medal icon.svg 1500m
Gold medal icon.svg 10000m
Gold medal icon.svg overall
GOTHENBURG

Gold medal icon.svg 500m
12th 5000m
10th 1500m
6th 10000m
5th overall
OSLO

6th 500m
10th 5000m
Silver medal icon.svg 1500m
6th 10000m
Bronze medal icon.svg overall

1965–1966
DEVENTER

Gold medal icon.svg 500m
Silver medal icon.svg 5000m
Gold medal icon.svg 1500m
Silver medal icon.svg 10000m
Silver medal icon.svg overall
DEVENTER

4th 500m
Gold medal icon.svg 5000m
Gold medal icon.svg 1500m
4th 10000m
Gold medal icon.svg overall
GOTHENBURG

Bronze medal icon.svg 500m
Bronze medal icon.svg 5000m
5th 1500m
4th 10000m
Silver medal icon.svg overall

1966–1967
AMSTERDAM

Gold medal icon.svg 500m
Bronze medal icon.svg 5000m
4th 1500m
Silver medal icon.svg 10000m
Silver medal icon.svg overall
LAHTI

32nd 500m
Silver medal icon.svg 5000m
10th 1500m
4th 10000m
15th overall
OSLO

Bronze medal icon.svg 500m
Bronze medal icon.svg 5000m
Gold medal icon.svg 1500m
4th 10000m
Silver medal icon.svg overall

1967–1968
AMSTERDAM

Gold medal icon.svg 500m
Gold medal icon.svg 5000m
Gold medal icon.svg 1500m
5th 10000m
Gold medal icon.svg overall
OSLO

4th 500m
7th 5000m
10th 1500m
8th 10000m
6th overall
GRENOBLE

13th 500m
Silver medal icon.svg 1500m
GOTHENBURG

Bronze medal icon.svg 500m
8th 5000m
Silver medal icon.svg 1500m
8th 10000m
Bronze medal icon.svg overall

1968–1969
HEERENVEEN

Gold medal icon.svg 500m
Bronze medal icon.svg 5000m
5th 1500m
5th 10000m
Bronze medal icon.svg overall
INZELL

6th 500m
4th 5000m
5th 1500m
13th 10000m
4th overall
DEVENTER

9th 500m
Bronze medal icon.svg 5000m
28th 1500m
8th 10000m
13th overall

1969–1970
DEVENTER

Gold medal icon.svg 500m
Bronze medal icon.svg 5000m
Gold medal icon.svg 1500m
Silver medal icon.svg 10000m
Gold medal icon.svg overall
INNSBRUCK

4th 500m
Bronze medal icon.svg 5000m
Gold medal icon.svg 1500m
5th 10000m
Gold medal icon.svg overall
OSLO

Bronze medal icon.svg 500m
Bronze medal icon.svg 5000m
Gold medal icon.svg 1500m
4th 10000m
Gold medal icon.svg overall
WEST ALLIS

16th 500m
Silver medal icon.svg 1000m
19th 500m
Gold medal icon.svg 1000m
6th overall

1970–1971
AMSTERDAM

Gold medal icon.svg 500m
Gold medal icon.svg 5000m
Gold medal icon.svg 1500m
5th 10000m
Silver medal icon.svg overall
HEERENVEEN

Gold medal icon.svg 500m
11th 5000m
Silver medal icon.svg 1500m
3rd 10000m
Silver medal icon.svg overall
GOTHENBURG

Bronze medal icon.svg 500m
Gold medal icon.svg 5000m
Gold medal icon.svg 1500m
Gold medal icon.svg 10000m
Gold medal icon.svg overall
INZELL

10th 500m
Gold medal icon.svg 1000m
11th 500m
Gold medal icon.svg 1000m
Bronze medal icon.svg overall

1971–1972
DAVOS

Gold medal icon.svg 500m
Gold medal icon.svg 5000m
Gold medal icon.svg 1500m
5th 10000m
Gold medal icon.svg overall
SAPPORO

34th 500m
Gold medal icon.svg 1500m
Gold medal icon.svg 5000m
Gold medal icon.svg 10000m
OSLO

Gold medal icon.svg 500m
Gold medal icon.svg 5000m
Gold medal icon.svg 1500m
Gold medal icon.svg 10000m
Gold medal icon.svg overall
ESKILSTUNA

16th 500m
Gold medal icon.svg 1000m
16th 500m
Gold medal icon.svg 1000m
Bronze medal icon.svg overall

1972–1973
SKIEN

Bronze medal icon.svg 500m
Gold medal icon.svg 5000m
Gold medal icon.svg 1500m
Silver medal icon.svg 10000m
Gold medal icon.svg overall
GOTHENBURG

Silver medal icon.svg 500m
Gold medal icon.svg 5000m
Gold medal icon.svg 1500m
Gold medal icon.svg 10000m
Gold medal icon.svg overall

1973–1974
TYNSET

4th 500m
8th 5000m
7th 1500m
6th 10000m
6th overall

Source: [8]

Medals won

ChampionshipGold
Gold medal icon.svg
Silver
Silver medal icon.svg
Bronze
Bronze medal icon.svg
Dutch Allround
3
4
1
European Allround
3
1
0
Olympic Games
3
1
0
World Allround
3
2
2
World Sprint
0
0
2
ISSL European Allround
1
0
0
ISSL World Allround
1
0
0

See also

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References

  1. Koomen 1973
  2. Most world records set by men at SpeedSkatingStats.com
  3. Most world records set by women at SpeedSkatingStats.com
  4. A sprint combination world record was only introduced in the next season.
  5. "Ard Schenk". SpeedSkatingStats.com. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  6. "Skater Profile | Ard Schenk | Men | Netherlands".
  7. "Adel". Archived from the original on 2007-02-12. Retrieved 2007-02-12. Adelskalender pages of Evert Stenlund
  8. "Skater Profile | Ard Schenk | Men | Netherlands".

Bibliography

  • Bal, Rien and Van Dijk, Rob. Schaatskampioenen, alles over het seizoen 68-69 (Speedskating Champions, all about the season 68-69) . Amsterdam, the Netherlands: N.V. Het Parool, 1969. (Dutch)
  • Eng, Trond. All Time International Championships, Complete Results: 1889 - 2002. Askim, Norway: WSSSA-Skøytenytt, 2002.
  • Froger, Fred R. Topsporters: Ard Schenk * Kees Verkerk (Elite Athletes: Ard Schenk * Kees Verkerk). Bussum, the Netherlands: Van Holkema & Warendorf, 1967. (Dutch)
  • ___________ Winnaars op de schaats (Victors on Skates), Een Parool Sportpocket. Amsterdam, the Netherlands: N.V. Het Parool, 1968. (Dutch)
  • Koomen, Theo. 10 Jaar Topschaatsen (10 Years Elite Speedskating). Laren (NH), the Netherlands: Uitgeverij Luitingh, 1971. ISBN   90-245-0114-8. (Dutch)
  • _________ Topschaatsen 1972 (Elite Speedskating 1972). Laren (NH), the Netherlands: Uitgeverij Luitingh, 1972. ISBN   90-245-0152-0. (Dutch)
  • _________ Topschaatsen 3 (Elite Speedskating 3). Laren (NH), the Netherlands: Uitgeverij Luitingh, 1973. ISBN   90-245-0194-6. (Dutch)
  • Maaskant, Piet. Flitsende Ijzers, De geschiedenis van de schaatssport (Flashing Blades, the History of Dutch Speedskating). Zwolle, the Netherlands: La Rivière & Voorhoeve, 1967 (Second revised and expanded edition). (Dutch)
  • _________ Heya, Heya! Het nieuwe boek van de Schaatssport (Heya, Heya! The New book of Dutch Speedskating). Zwolle, the Netherlands: La Rivière & Voorhoeve, 1970. (Dutch)
  • Peereboom, Klaas. Van Jaap Eden tot Ard Schenk (From Jaap Eden till Ard Schenk). Baarn, the Netherlands: De Boekerij, 1972. ISBN   90-225-0346-1. (Dutch)
  • Schenk, Ard and Racké, Fred. Ard Apart, mijn groei naar de top (Ard on his own, his growth to the Top). Alkmaar, the Netherlands: Verenigde Noordhollandse Dagbladen, 1971. (Dutch)
  • Teigen, Magne. Komplette Resultater Internasjonale Mesterskap 1889 - 1989: Menn/Kvinner, Senior/Junior, allround/sprint. Veggli, Norway: WSSSA-Skøytenytt, 1989. (Norwegian)
  • Van Eyle, Wim. Een Eeuw Nederlandse Schaatssport (A Century of Dutch Speedskating). Utrecht, the Netherlands: Uitgeverij Het Spectrum, 1982. ISBN   90-274-9476-2. (Dutch)
  • Witkamp, Anton and Koning, Dolf (eds.). Schaatsgoud '72 (Speedskating Gold '72). Bussum, the Netherlands: Teleboek NV, 1972. ISBN   90-6122-204-4. (Dutch)


Awards
Preceded by Dutch Sportsman of the Year
with Kees Verkerk

1966
Succeeded by
Preceded by Dutch Sportsman of the Year
1970 to 1972
Succeeded by
Preceded by Oscar Mathisen Award
1970–1972
Succeeded by
Olympic Games
Preceded by Flagbearer for Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
1964 Innsbruck
Succeeded by