Gerard Kemkers
Gerard Kemkers (born 8 March 1967) is a former speed skater from the Netherlands, who represented his native country at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada. There he won the bronze medal in the 5000 metres.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nationality | Dutch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 8 March 1967 Groningen, Netherlands | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 71 kg (157 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Netherlands | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Speed skating | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turned pro | 1985 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retired | 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 500 m: 38.30 (1988) 1000 m: 1:15.85 (1990) 1500 m: 1:56.13 (1990) 5000 m: 6:45.92 (1988) 10 000 m: 14:03.90 (1988) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Kemkers retired from international competition in 1990 and became a coach.
During the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, he coached Ireen Wüst to two medals: 3000 m gold and 1500 m bronze, and Sven Kramer to a silver medal on the 5000 m.
During the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver he coached Sven Kramer to the gold medal at the 5000 m and Ireen Wüst to the gold medal on the 1500 m. During Kramer's 10 km race, Kemkers made a mistake and guided Kramer to the wrong lane. Kramer finished first, with a time of 12:54.50 (even though he skated an extra lap in the outer lane) but was disqualified for failing to change lanes. As a result, Lee Seung-hoon won gold with a new Olympic record, 12:58.55. Kramer later said, "At the end of the day, it is my responsibility. I am the skater on the ice, I have to do it".