Sven Kramer

Short Biography

Sven Kramer (born 23 April 1986) is a Dutch long track speed skater who has won an all-time men's record eight World Allround Championships as well as a men's record eight European Allround Championships. He is the Olympic champion of the 5000 meters in Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 and won a record (for both men and women) 17 gold medals at the World Single Distance Championships (held since 1996); seven in the 5000 meters, four in the 10, 000 meters, and six in the team pursuit. His 11 individual titles are a men's record. Kramer is the current world record holder in the 5000 m and the team pursuit (the latter alongside Jan Blokhuijsen and Koen Verweij), and broke the world record in each of those events, as well as in the 10, 000 m, three times. By winning the 2010 World Allround Championship, Kramer became the first speed skater in history to win four consecutive world allround championships, and eight consecutive international allround championships. He has been undefeated in the 16 international allround championships he participated in since the 2006/2007 season. From November 2007 to March 2009 he was ranked first in the Adelskalender, but despite his dominance as an all-round skater has since been second on that list to Shani Davis by 0.2 to 0.3 points (seconds on the 500 m).