Nick THOMETZ

Nick Thometz may be the greatest ever American sprint speed skater not to have medaled at the Winter Olympics. He competed internationally for the US from 1981-92. During his career he won nine World Cup 1,000s and two 500s. Thometz won the overall 500 and 1,000 in the 1986-87 World Cup, and placed second at the 1987 World Sprints. He set one official world record, recording 36.55 for 500 m at Heerenveen in March 1987, but he may be most famous for two marks he set that month that were not accepted as world records by the ISU. At a meet in Medeo, USSR, Thometz bettered both the 500 and 1,000 metre records, posting 36.23 and 1:12.05, but the meet was not registered properly in advance, negating the marks. Thometz later settled in Vancouver, Washington, where he works in real estate development. He is also on the ISU Technical Committee. Born Keith Thometz, but always known as Nick, after his speed skating career ended, he had his name legally changed to Nick.

Personal Bests: 500 – 36.23 (1987); 1000 – 1:12.05 (1987); 1500 – 1:53.66 (1987); 5000 – 7:30.50 (1982); 10000 – 16:06.0 (1983).