Stien Baas-Kaiser

Christina Kaiser was already 29 years old when she first competed at the Olympic Games in 1968.

First try, third place

She won a bronze medal at 1,500m. She entered the 3,000m as the reigning world record holder, but again she finished only third.

Into the book of records

In 1972, Baas-Kaiser also entered the 1,500 and the 3,000. This time she held the world record in both events. In the 1,500 she earned a silver medal, losing to Dianne Holum by only one fifth of a second. Three days later, Baas-Kaiser won the gold medal at 3,000m. Her margin of victory, 6.53 seconds, remains the largest in the history of women's speed skating. Baas-Kaiser also retains a place in the Winter Games record book as the oldest woman to win a gold medal in an individual event. When she won the 3,000m in 1972, her age was 33 years 268 days.