Johann Olav Koss

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 skaters in history.

Career

Koss took part in the 1986 and 1987 World Junior Championships, his best finish was in 1987 rank 7 over 3000 meters. In 1988, he first participated at the World Cup, but failed to qualify for the final run 10,000 meters located. 1989, Koss first time at the European Championships at the start, finishing in 15th place in the World Cup 1989, he moved up to rank 8. In January 1990, Koss won his first World Cup race over 1500 meters and 5000 meters. At the European Championships in 1990 Koss took fourth place, a month later, he won in Innsbruck the title of world champion, although he was fastest time on any of the four individual sections. End of the season he won the World Cup on the 1500 meter course.

In the 1990/1991 season Koss then won both the European Championship and the World Championship, the World Cup he lost on the 5,000 - meter course only a single race and won the title both over 1500 meters and 5000 meters. In 1991 he won the first time at the Norwegian championship in the all around, this item should he win three more times until 1994.

He finished second in the European Championship in 1992 behind the Dutchman Falko Zandstra. At the 1992 Winter Olympic Games in Albertville Koss suffered initially under an inflammation of the pancreas, he finished only seventh place on his actual purpose-built track over 5000 meters. Three days later he showed up again recovered and won the gold medal in the 1500 meters. At the conclusion of the Olympic competitions he still won silver in the 10,000 m behind the Dutchman Bart Veldkamp. At the conclusion of the Olympic season Koss won bronze at the World Championship behind the Italian Roberto Sighel and Falko Zandstra.

1993 was subject Koss both at the European Championships and at the World Championships the Dutchman Zandstra. At the European Championships 1994 he beat Zandstra, but his compatriot Rintje Ritsma defeated both and won gold before Koss and Zandsta. The 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer should be for Koss the peak of his career, in Vikingskipet in Hamar, he won on the lines of 1500 meters to 10,000 meters three gold medals each with a world record. After the Olympics, Koss won his second world title and end of the season he still won the World Cup over 5000 meters. With the completion of the 1993/1994 season Koss ended his career. In 1994 he was named Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated magazine.

Koss now lives in Toronto, he is the president and CEO of the development aid organization Right to Play, it plays an UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. From 1999 to 2004, he was married with Canadian politician Belinda Stronach and businesswoman. From 1998 to 2002 he was a member of the International Olympic Committee.

Personal best

World Records

Koss introduced during his career total of ten world records.

Awards

  • Sportsman of the Year in the election of Sports Illustrated in 1994
  • European Athlete of the Year (PAP ) 1994
  • Norway's Sportsman of the Year 1991, 1994
  • Oscar Mathisen Memorial Trophy in 1990, 1991, 1994
  • Morgenbladet Gold Medal 1990
  • Fearnleys olympiske ærespris 1994
  • Norwegian Order of Merit 2011
World All-Round Speed Skating Championships European Speed Skating Championships List of Olympic medalists in speed skating Thialf Royal Norwegian Order of Merit Julius Skutnabb Irving Jaffee Hjalmar Andersen Knut Johannesen Jonny Nilsson Piet Kleine Igor Malkov Tomas Gustafson Gianni Romme Jochem Uytdehaage Bob de Jong Jorrit Bergsma Boris Shilkov Fred Anton Maier Geir Karlstad Chad Hedrick Sven Kramer Jack Shea Charles Mathiesen Yuri Mikhaylov Roald Aas Ants Antson Derek Parra Enrico Fabris Mark Tuitert Jaap Eden Jack McCulloch Sigurd Mathisen Coen de Koning Roald Larsen Bernt Evensen Michael Staksrud Hans Engnestangen Birger Wasenius Lassi Parkkinen Odd Lundberg Oleg Goncharenko Henk van der Grift Per Ivar Moe Harm Kuipers Hilbert van der Duim Hein Vergeer Nikolay Gulyayev Eric Flaim Leo Visser Ids Postma Shani Davis Adelskalender (skating) Magne Thomassen Hans van Helden Michael Hadschieff
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