The Way of Sven Kramer to Multiple Wins and Records
Sven Kramer is a real legend of long track speed skating. The Dutch athlete won a great number of medals and titles, being 9-time World and European Champion as well as 4-time Olympic Champion. So, we can’t resist telling you about this fantastic speed skater.
Contents
Career Beginnings
Sven Kramer poster
Sven Kramer was born on April 23, 1986, in Heerenveen, Netherlands. His father is former speed skater Yep Kramer. His younger brother Brecht is also a speed skater.
At the 2004 Junior World Championships, Sven took a silver medal. The same year, he won the Dutch Allround Championships and became a silver medalist of European Allround Championships. In 2005, he won a bronze medal at the World Allround Championships and became the Junior Allround champion. In 2006, the athlete switched to the senior level.
European and World Championships
Sven Kramer
Being 6-time Dutch Allround champion and 20-time Dutch Single Distance champion, Sven Kramer represented his country at the European and World Championships. In 2006/07 season, he gained his first gold medals at the European Allround and World Allround Championships. Moreover, that season, he won 3 gold medals at the World Single Distance Championships in 5000m, 10000m and team pursuit. As a result, he was called Skater of the Year.
In 2007/08 season, the speed skater defended all his titles, gained in the previous season, as well as added a silver medal in 1500m at the World Single Distance Championships. Moreover, the situation repeated the following season and the athlete won the same titles for 3 years in a row. In 2009/10, he became the Allround European and World Champion again. Moreover, he got the title of Skater of the Year 3 more times.
Having missed 2010/11 season because of the leg injury, Kramer returned to his wins in 2011/12 season. In 2011/12 as well as 2013/14 seasons, the speed skater won European Allround, World Allround titles as well as gold medals in 5000m and team pursuit at the World Single Distance Championships, getting also silver in 10000m.
Kramer remained the European Allround and World Allround Champion in 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons, winning also 6 gold and 1 bronze medals at the World Single Distance Championships. In 2017/18, he finished the season at the 4th place at the World Allround Championships.
Winter Olympic Games
Sven Kramer at Olympic Games
Sven Kramer made an Olympic debut at 2006 Turin. He won silver in 5000m and bronze in team pursuit. At 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the athlete claimed his first gold in 5000m and also gained a bronze medal in team pursuit.
In 2014 Sochi, Sven became 3-time Olympic medalist. He claimed gold in 5000m and team pursuit as well as won a silver medal in 10000m. In 2018 PyeongChang, he earned one more gold in 5000m and bronze in team pursuit. Kramer became the only male speed skater to win the same Olympic event for 3 times as well as the first man to win 8 Olympic medals in speed skating.
World and Olympic Records
Sven Kramer print
Sven Kramer has set many world and Olympic records. Here they are:
World Records
5000m – 6:08.78 (19 November 2005, Salt Lake City)
10000m – 12:51.61 (19 March 2006, Calgary)
10000m – 12:49.88 (11 February 2007, Heerenveen)
5000m – 6:07.48 (3 March 2007, Calgary)
10000m – 12:41.69 (10 March 2007, Salt Lake City)
Team Pursuit – 3:37.80 (11 March 2007, Salt Lake City)
5000m – 6:03.32 (17 November 2007, Calgary)
Team Pursuit – 3:37.17 (9 November 2013, Calgary)
Team Pursuit – 3:35.60 (16 November 2013, Salt Lake City)
Olympic Records
5000m – 6:09.76 (11 February 2018, PyeongChang)
Team pursuit – 3:37.71 (22 February 2014. Sochi)
So, Sven Kramer is a really great personality, who has already added his name to the history of speed skating as one of the most successful athletes at European and World Championships as well as Olympic Games. And more wins are ahead.
