Gerard Kemkers (born March 8, 1967 in Groningen ) is a Dutch speed skating trainer and former speed skater, who celebrated his greatest successes on the routes over 1,500 m and 5,000 m.
Kemkers first appeared internationally in 1986 when he finished 4th in the all- around world championship . In 1988 he won the bronze medal in the 5,000 m competition at the Winter Olympics in Calgary . Gold was won by his compatriot and training mate Leo Visser . 1989 was another successful year for Kemkers. He won the silver medal in both the European all- around championship and the world all-around championship. He also won the individual World Cup ranking over the 1,500 m course. After the 1990/91 season Kemkers ended his active career.
Career as a coach
In the TVM team financed by a Dutch insurance company, Kemkers was also able to show great success as a coach. Since the 2005/06 season his team has included Sven Kramer and Ireen Wüst , whom he led to the all-around world and European championship titles. On December 21, 2006, Kemkers was voted "Dutch Coach of the Year 2006" in a poll organized by the Dutch television company NOS . Kemkers attracted international attention at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver . After his protégés Sven Kramer and Ireen Wüst had already won the gold medal in the 5,000 m and 1,500 m respectively, Kemkers made a serious mistake in the Kramer's 10,000 m race. At about 6,600 m he instructed Kramer, who was on the gold medal course, to switch to the inside lane, although he should have run on the outside lane, which led to Kramer's disqualification. After Kramer had initially stated that he wanted to continue training with his coach despite the mistake of his coach, he announced in early March 2010 that he wanted to end the cooperation with Kemkers after the 2010 season.
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Netherlands
