Jan LANGEDIJK

Inspired to start speed skating by his townsman Wim Kos, Jan Langedijk became the best Dutch skater of the 1930s and 1940s, specializing in the long distances. While never reaching higher than 8th in international championships (at the 1937 Europeans and 1938 Worlds), he twice placed on the podium in 10,000 m races. At the 1935 World Championships, he surprisingly placed second behind Michael Staksrud, while in 1938 he finished third despite a fall. Considered an outsider for an Olympic medal in Garmisch, he placed 4th and 6th in the long distances. At the next Olympics, twelve years later, he virtually copied this performance, now placing 5th and 6th. Jan Langedijk was crowned as Dutch champion three times: 1940, 1941 and 1947. At the last occasion, he swept all four distances.

Personal Bests: 500 – 45.0 (1938); 1500 – 2:20.1 (1939); 5000 – 8:24.2 (1949); 10000 – 17:28.2 (1938).