Johann Olav Koss

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Johann Olav Koss Speed ​​skating
Johann Olav Koss, 2007
nation NorwayNorway Norway
birthday October 29, 1968
place of birth Drammen
size 189 cm
Career
discipline Speed ​​skating
status resigned
Medal table
winter Olympics 4 × gold 1 × silver 0 × bronze
M-World Championship medals 3 × gold 1 × silver 1 × bronze
M-EM medals 1 × gold 3 × silver 0 × bronze
Olympic rings winter Olympics
gold Albertville 1992 1500 m
silver Albertville 1992 10,000 m
gold Lillehammer 1994 1500 m
gold Lillehammer 1994 5000 m
gold Lillehammer 1994 10,000 m
ISU All around world championships
gold Innsbruck 1990 All-around
gold Heerenveen 1991 All-around
bronze Calgary 1992 All-around
silver Hamar 1993 All-around
gold Gothenburg 1994 All-around
ISU All-around European Championships
gold Sarajevo 1991 All-around
silver Heerenveen 1992 All-around
silver Heerenveen 1993 All-around
silver Hamar 1994 All-around
 

Johann Olav Koss (born October 29, 1968 in Drammen ) is a former Norwegian speed skater . With four Olympic victories and three titles in the all- around world championships , he is one of the most successful speed skaters in history.

Career

Koss took part in the Junior World Championships in 1986 and 1987, his best placement in 1987 was 7th place over 3000 meters. In 1988 he took part in the world championship for the first time, but could not qualify for the final 10,000 meter run. In 1989, Koss competed in the European Championship for the first time and finished in 15th place, at the 1989 World Cup he was able to improve to 8th place. In January 1990, Koss won his first World Cup races over 1500 meters and 5000 meters. At the European Championships in 1990, Koss finished fourth, a month later he won the title of world champion in Innsbruck, although he was not the fastest on any of the four individual routes. At the end of the season, he won the World Cup on the 1500 meter course.

In the 1990/1991 season, Koss won both the European and world championship titles , in the World Cup he only lost one race on the 5000 meter course and won the title in both the 1500 meter and 5000 meter. In 1991 he also won the Norwegian championship in all-around for the first time, and he was to win this title three times by 1994.

In 1992 he was second behind the Dutchman Falko Zandstra at the European Championships. At the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, Koss initially suffered from an inflammation of the pancreas, he only finished seventh on his actual special course over 5000 meters. Three days later he was recovered and won the gold medal over 1500 meters. At the end of the Olympic competitions he won silver over 10,000 meters behind the Dutchman Bart Veldkamp . At the end of the Olympic season, Koss won bronze at the World Championships behind the Italians Roberto Sighel and Falko Zandstra.

Vikingskipet, the Viking ship in Hamar , hosted the 1994 Olympic speed skating competitions

In 1993, Koss was defeated by the Dutch Zandstra at both the European Championship and the World Championship . At the European Championships in 1994 he was able to beat Zandstra, but his compatriot Rintje Ritsma defeated both and won gold from Koss and Zandsta. The 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer were supposed to be the high point of his career for Koss, in Vikingskipet in Hamar he won three gold medals, each with a world record, on distances from 1500 to 10,000 meters. After the Olympic Games, Koss won his second world title and at the end of the season he won the 5000 meter World Cup. With the conclusion of the 1993/1994 season, Koss ended his career. In 1994 he became the magazine Sports Illustrated for Sportsman of the Year nominated.

Today, Koss lives in Toronto, he is President and CEO of the development aid organization Right to Play , he is also a UNICEF special envoy. From 1999 to 2004 he was married to the Canadian businesswoman and politician Belinda Stronach . From 1998 to 2002 he was a member of the International Olympic Committee.

Personal best

distance time date place
500 m 37.98 January 7, 1994 Hamar
1000 m 1: 14.90 January 10, 1993 Hamar
1500 m 1: 51.29 February 16, 1994 Hamar
3000 m 3: 57.52 March 13, 1990 Heerenveen
5000 m 6: 34.96 February 13, 1994 Hamar
10,000 m 13: 30.55 February 20, 1994 Hamar

World records

Koss set a total of ten world records during his career.

discipline Result date place
3000 m 3: 57.52 March 13, 1990 Thialf in Heerenveen
5000 m 6: 41.73 February 9, 1991 Thialf in Heerenveen
10,000 m 13: 43.54 February 10, 1991 Thialf in Heerenveen
All-around 157.396 February 26, 1991 Thialf in Heerenveen
5000 m 6: 38.77 January 22, 1993 Thialf in Heerenveen
5000 m 6: 36.57 March 13, 1993 Thialf in Heerenveen
5000 m 6: 35.53 4th December 1993 Viking ship in Hamar
5000 m 6: 34.96 February 13, 1994 Viking ship in Hamar
1500 m 1: 51.29 February 16, 1994 Viking ship in Hamar
10,000 m 13: 30.55 February 20, 1994 Viking ship in Hamar

Awards

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Koss, Johann Olav
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Norwegian speed skater
DATE OF BIRTH October 29, 1968
PLACE OF BIRTH Drammen