Johanna SCHUT

Although Ans Schut was known as a long distance skater, she had won the 3000 m at the 1968 World Championships two weeks before the Grenoble Olympics, Schut was not the gold medal favourite in the 3k. That was her compatriot, Stien Baas-Kaiser, the 1967 and 1968 World Champion and World Record holder. But Baas-Kaiser raced in rainy conditions, while Schut had a clear sky and finished close to Baas-Kaiser's World Record. In the next season, Schut would break the 3000 World Record three times, in addition to the 1500 m record. Schut seemed headed for the 1970 world title, but a fall in the 1000 m cost her dearly, leaving her 2nd place in 1968 as her best performance. At the Dutch Championships, she never fared better than second (1969) and third on three occasions.

Personal Bests: 500 – 44.9 (1971); 1000 – 1:30.1 (1971); 1500 – 2:16.6 (1971); 3000 – 4:50.3 (1969).