From Bones to Medals
by Peter Dankers
Bone skates
From Central Europe
Publication of the Anthropological Society Vienna, 1902
William Fitzstephen, secretary of Thomas Beckett , Canterbury writes between 1174 and 1183
.....when there is ice on the lakes, many young men tie bones to their feet, and push themselves forward with a pole, and slide as swift as a bird flies, or as fast as an arrow out of a crossbow. (London chronicles, 1174)
1550 Woodcut
Early skates with iron blades
14th Century Manuscript
First known iron skate blades date from the early 13th century. Amsterdam and Dordrecht The Netherlands
Calendar on parchement Convent of Saint Pierre de Blandigny near Ghent , Flandres
Hieronymus (Jeroen) Bosch, 1450 -1516
Around 1504, Garden of earthly delights, Oil on wood panel, 220x195cm Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain
Hieronymus (Jeroen) Bosch, 1450 -1516
Detail of the right panel of the triptych
Speed Skating Competitions
First report of a speed skating competition
In 1466 Vclav aek writes in his diary that his lord, the Bohemian Baron Leo von Romital, who stays at the court of Philip the Fair in Brussels, is invited by his host to watch a contest on ice. aek is surprised by the speed of the skaters, faster than a horse and doing cross-overs in the corners. One person in particular is way faster than all other contenders.
C. Whymper
1889, First World Championship, Amsterdam Joe Donoghue, USA vs. Alexander von Pansjin, Russia
First World Championship in North America Jack McCulloch won the title
1924, Chamonix, France The First Olympic Winter Games
Stade de Mont Blanc
Elevation: 1034m
1924, Chamonix, France
31 Speed Skaters 13 countries distances: 500, 1500, 5,000 10,000 and all-round Finland 3 skaters, 8 medals, 4 gold Thunberg 3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze Canadian Delegation Speed skater: Charles Gorman Norway 7 medals Larsen won a medal in every event
1924, Chamonix, France
Saturday, January 26 , 500 m start Jewtraw, USA versus Gorman, Canada (right) Jewtraw wins the race and the first Olympic gold medal
Sankt Moritz, Switzerland, 1928
Badrutts Park, 1921
Elevation: 1856m
Sankt Moritz, Switzerland, 1928
Statistics
Participants 37 Number of countries 14 Medal count Norway 7 Finland 6 USA 1 Julius Skutnab, who won the silver medal in the 5000 m, is still the oldest male speed skater ever to win an Olympic medal at the age of 38. The 10km was stopped after 5 pairs because of poor ice . No medals were awarded.
Sankt Moritz, Switzerland, 1928
Canadians Charles Gorman Willie Logan Ross Robinson
Charles Gorman
Willie Logan
In his second Olympic Winter Games, Gorman was too late at the start of the 1500 m. He was allowed to skate outside competition. His time was recorded but didnt count
Lake Placid, USA, 1932
The Pack-style Games Women skating as demonstration sport
Olympic Stadium, 1931
Elevation: 568m
Lake Placid, USA, 1932
First Olympic Winter Games in North America North American rules were used for the speed skating competition for the only time in history. Some of the best European skaters did not participate. Most medals went to American and Canadian skaters. Only six countries participated for a total of 29 skaters, the least ever.
Lake Placid, USA, 1932
Canadians medals Canadian Speed Skating Team
William Logan, Alex Hurd, Frank Stack, Marion McCarthy, Leopold Sylvestre, Harry Smyth, Herbert Flack Alex Hurd silver medal 1500m, bronze 500m Willie Logan two bronze medals 1500m, 5000m Franck Stack bronze in the 10,000m
Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany, 1936
Rieersee
Elevation: 783m
Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany, 1936
Canadians
Only one Canadian Thomas White, a 20 years old skater from Saint John (NB), who skated all four distances.
Frank Stack, declined to participate
Sankt Moritz, Switzerland, 1948
For the second time
Badrutts Park, 1921
Elevation: 1856m
Sankt Moritz, Switzerland, 1948
Canadians
Frank Stack Gordon Audley Abe Hardy Craig MacKay
Canadian skaters footed the bill for overdue fees on the spot out of their own pocket.
Oslo, Norway, 1952
First Olympic speed skating competition in a stadium
Bislett Stadion, 1925-1988
Elevation: 37m
Oslo, Norway, 1952
Bronze for Canada Canadians
Gordon Audley Frank Stack Craig MacKay Ralf Olin
Gordon Audley Bronze 500m
Frank Stacks last Olympics After 20 years, 1932,1948,1952
Cortina DAmpezzo, Italy, 1956
The ice surface was cut loose from the lake ice Lago de Misurina Elevation: 1756m Last Olympic Games skated on natural ice
Cortina DAmpezzo, Italy, 1956
Canadians
Ralf Olin Gordon Audley John Sands
The Soviet Union made its first appearance in speed skating and immediately dominated the results.
Squaw Valley, USA, 1960
Women participated for the first time First artificial ice computers were used for the first time to tabulate the results
Helga Haase, Germany first Gold medal for women Lydiya Skoblikova, gold in the1500 and 5000 m Knut Johanessen, first time under 15 minutes in 10km Blyth Memorial Arena, Elevation: 1890m
Squaw Valley, USA, 1960
Canadians
Doreen Ryan Margaret Robb John Sands Ralf Olin Lawrence Mason
Doreen Ryan
Ralph Olin (front) John Sands
Innsbruck, Austria, 1964
Olympia Eisstadion, 1963
Elevation:542m
First electronic timing
Lidiya Skoblikova wins all [Link] has a record total of 6 Olympic gold medals.
Innsbruck, Austria, 1964
Canadians
Doreen Ryan Doreen McCannell Ralf Olin Gerald Koning
Best Canadian result by Doreen McCannell who placed 8th in the 3000 m.
Grenoble, France, 1968
Calgary was its main rival. Votes were 27 to 24 in favour of Grenoble. Lap times were displayed for the first time on boards and television screens during races The water to make the ice was demineralized. Breakthrough for Dutch skaters with 9 medals Parc Paul Mistral Anneau de vitesse, 1968 Elevation:220m
Grenoble, France, 1968
Canadians
Doreen McCannell Marcie Parsons Wendy Thompson Robert Boucher Peter Williamson Robert Hodges Paul Enock
Sapporo, Japan, 1972
First Olympic Winter games in Asia
Ard Schenk, NED, won 3 gold medals Makomanai Skating Centre Capacity 50,000 Elevation 71m
Sapporo, Japan, 1972
Canadians
Doreen McCannell Cathy Priestner Sylvia Burka Gayle Gordon Jennifer Jackson Gerry Cassan John Cassidy Kevin Sirois Sylvia Burka interfered in the 500 m with her competitor Henning from the USA. Henning was allowed a re-skate and won the event. Andrew Barron Robert Hodges
Innsbruck, Austria, 1976
The Olympic facilities in Innsbruck were used for the second time in 12 years because Denver, USA, pulled out of the Games
The 1000m men was added to the speed skating program. Peter Mueller won the first gold medal in this distance
Olympia Eisstadion, 1963
Elevation:542m
Skin-suits made their debut at the Olympics
Innsbruck, Austria, 1976
Canadians
Cathy Priestner Sylvia Burka Gayle Gordon Kathy Vogt Elizabeth Appleby Tom Overend Gatan Boucher Andrew Barron
Cathy Priestner winning Silver for Canada in the 500 m
Lake Placid, USA, 1980
Hosting the Olympic Winter Games for the second time
James [Link] Olympic Skating Rink, 1931 Elevation: 568m Eric Heiden wins every distance for a total of 5 gold medals
Lake Placid, USA, 1980
Canadians
Sylvia Burka Brenda Webster Kathy Vogt Sylvie Daigle Patricia Durnin Gatan Boucher Jacques Thibault Craig Webster
For the second time in a row Canada wins an Olympic medal. Gatan Boucher wins silver in the 1000m after Eric Heiden.
Sarajewo, Yugoslavia, 1984
For the first time Japan wins a medal in the 500 m and has continued to do so ever since. The Dutch did not win any medals.
Zetra Ice Complex
Elevation: 567m
Sarajewo, Yugoslavia, 1984
Canadians
Gatan Boucher Jacques Thibault Benoit Lamarche Jean Pichette Daniel Turcotte Sylvie Daigle Natalie Grenier
In his third Olympics, Gatan Boucher dominates the mens competition by winning two gold and one bronze medal for Canada.
Calgary, Canada, 1988
First Olympic competition in a covered oval
Statistics
19 countries 119 participants
Medal Count
GDR 13 NED 7 USA 3 SWE 2 USSR 2 AUT 2 JPN 1
Olympic Oval Elevation:1034m The 5000 m for women was added to the competition. Yvonne van Gennip was the first winner of the distance. She won a total of three gold medals
Calgary, Canada, 1988
Canadians
Chantal Ct Kathy Gordon Natalie Grenier Marie Pierre Lamarche Ariane Loignon Caroline Maheux Shelley Rhead Gatan Boucher Gordon Goplen Gregor Jelonek Benoit Lamarche Jean Pichette Guy Thibault Marcel Tremblay Robert Tremblay Daniel Turcotte
Gatan Boucher in his fourth and final Olympic competition
Benoit Lamarche
Guy Thibault
Calgary, Canada, 1988
Short track was a demonstration sport
Albertville, France, 1992
Last Olympics on outdoor ice Cracks in the ice surface appeared frequently due to shifting sand holding the refrigeration system.
Stade de patinage Olympique Elevation: 335m
Albertville, France, 1992
Short track
Nathalie Lambert Annie Perreault Sylvie Daigle Angela Cutrone Frdric Blackburn Mark Lackie Michel Daignault Laurent Daignault Sylvain Gagnon
Long Track
Susan Auch Catriona Lemay Shelley RheadSkarvan Neal Marshall Robert Dubreuil Guy Thibault Sean Ireland Patrick Kelly Kevin Scott
Lillehammer, Norway, 1994
Johann Olav Koss won three gold medals in front of a home crowd Vikingskipet, Hamar Elevation 125m Bonnie Blair won her third consecutive Olympic Gold medal in the 500 m.
Lillehammer, Norway, 1994
Short Track Long Track
Sylvie Daigle Susan Auch Nathalie Lambert Catriona Lemay Isabelle Charest Ingrid Liepa Christine Boudrias Michelle Morton Marc Gagnon Linda Johnson Derrick Campbell Neal Marshall Frdric Blackburn Mike Hall Stephen Gough Sylvain Bouchard Pat Kelly Sean Ireland Mike Ireland Kevin Scott Patrick Bouchard
Nagano, Japan, 1998
Introduction of clap skates at the Olympic Winter Games. Aerodynamic strips on skin suits were allowed for the first time M-Wave Elevation: 342m
Nagano, Japan, 1998
Canadians
Susan Auch Catriona Lemay-Doan Ingrid Liepa Michelle Morton Linda Johnson-Blair Sylvie Cantin Isabella Doucet Cindy Overland Susan Massitti Jeremy Wotherspoon Kevin Overland Sylvain Bouchard Patrick Bouchard Steven Elm Kevin Marshall Neal Marshall Mark Knoll
Nagano, Japan, 1998
Canadians Short track
Isabelle Charest Annie Perreault Tania Vicent Christine Boudrias Marc Gagnon ric Bdard Franois Drolet Derrick Campbell
Salt Lake City, USA, 2002
Fastest Olympic ice. Nine out of ten world records were set at these Games.
Utah Olympic Oval, Kearns Elevation 1425 m
Salt Lake City, USA, 2002
Catriona LeMay Doan sucessfully defends her Olympic gold medal in the 500 m.
Canadians
Susan Auch Catriona Lemay-Doan Cindy Overland Cindy Klassen Kristina Groves Clara Hughes Jeremy Wotherspoon Patrick Bouchard ric Brisson Steven Elm Mike Ireland Kevin Marshall Mark Knoll Dustin Molicki Philippe Marois
Salt Lake City, USA, 2002
Canadians Short Track
Isabelle Charest Marie-Eve Drolet Amlie Goulet-Nadon Alanna Kraus Tania Vicent ric Bdard Marc Gagnon Jonathan Guilmette Franois-Louis Tremblay Mathieu Turcotte
Torino, Italy, 2006
Oval Lingotto Team Pursuit added to the competition
Canadians
Torino, Italy, 2006
Jeremy Wotherspoon Mike Ireland Vincent Labrie Brock Miron Denny Morrison Franois Olivier Roberge Steven Elm Arne Dankers Justin Warsylewicz Jason Parker Cindy Klassen Kristina Groves Clara Hughes Christine Nesbitt Shannon Rempel Krisy Myers Kerry Simpson Kim Weger
Torino, Italy, 2006
Alanna Kraus Anouk Leblanc-Boucher Kalyna Roberge Tania Vicent Amanda Overland Jonathan Guilmette ric Bdard Franois-Louis Tremblay Mathieu Turcotte Charles Hamelin
Vancouver, Canada 2010
LongTrack
Anastasia Bucsis Mathieu Giroux Jamie Gregg Kristina Groves Clara Hughes Mike Ireland Cindy Klassen Lucas Makowsky Denny Morrison Christine Nesbit Tamara Oudenaarden Kyle Parrott Shannon Rempel Franois-Olivier Roberge Brittany Schussler Jeremy Wotherspoon
Short Track
|Guillaume Bastille Jessica Gregg Charles Hamelin Franois Hamelin Olivier Jean Valrie Maltais Kalyna Roberge Marianne St-Gelais Franois-Louis Tremblay Tania Vicent
