Cornelis BROEKMAN

Discovered by fellow Olympian Siem Heiden, Kees Broekman quickly became one of the top long distance skaters in the post-war years. He was came within 3 tenths of winning the 1948 World Championships, missing his third distance win, and a guaranteed title, in the 1500 m. He placed second at the 1949 Worlds, but was subsequently overshadowed by Hjalmar Andersen of Norway. Behind Andersen, Broekman won two silver medals in the 1952 Olympics, the first ever Winter Olympic medals for the Netherlands. A year later, with Andersen retired, Broekman won his only international title, taking the European Championships. Although he was the first Dutchman to do so, this victory was overshadowed by the North Sea flood that hit the Netherlands that same day. Broekman, who had meanwhile settled in Norway, continued to skate until the 1960 Olympics, but without any major success. He later became a successful skating coach, leading Atje Keulen-Deelstra and Göran Claeson to world titles. He eventually became a coach in Berlin, where he died at age 65.

Personal Bests: 500 – 44.2 (1956); 1500 – 2:13.2 (1956); 5000 – 8:00.2 (1956); 10000 – 16:33.5 (1956).